• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.288-294
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• 2019

Gardenia jasminoides is an herbal medicine that treats obesity and dampness-phlegm. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides on insulin resistance induced by Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were divided into three groups: control group (Ctrl), high-fat diet group (HFF), and high fat diet with Gardenia jasminoides extract administration group (GJT). Each 10 mice was allocated to each group (a total of 30 mice). All mice were allowed to eat fat-rich diet freely throughout the experiment. To examine the effect of Gardenia jasminoides, we observed weight changes, lipid blot distributions, PPAR-${\gamma}$, p-IkB, p-JNK in liver tissue, total cholesterol, and glucose levels in serum. Comparing of body weight measurements between 3 groups, in the GJT group, weight gain was significantly suppressed compared to the HFF group. The distribution of lipid blots and positive reaction of PPAR-${\gamma}$ were significantly lower in GJT group. The expression levels of p-$I{\kappa}B$ and p-JNK that plays critical roles in the development of insulin resistance were significantly decreased by GJ treatment. Total cholesterol and glucose levels in serum were also significantly lower in GJT group. Gardenia jasminoides has the effect of improving non - alcoholic fatty liver induced insulin resistance through the regulation of lipid metabolism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.299-304
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• 2008

Starting characteristics of the axi-symmetric second throat exhaust diffuser (STED) with zero-secondary flows are numerically investigated. Renolds-Average Navier-Stokes equations with a standard ${\kappa}-{\varepsilon}$ turbulence model incorporated with enhanced wall treatment are solved to simulate the diffusing evolutions of the nozzle plume. Minimum (optimum) starting pressure difference of 20$\sim$25% between 1-D theory and the measured data validated from previous results[5] is also applied to predict the range of an effective diffuser expansion ratio (Ad/At) in this system.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2021

Cannabis is one of the most abused drugs in Korea. The main psychoactive component in cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is metabolized to 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) and THCCOOH-glucuronide (THCCOOH-glu) in the human liver, whereby the amount of THCCOOH-glu found in urine is twice as high as that of THCCOOH. The analytical process adapted by the majority of urine drug-testing programs involves a two-step method consisting of an initial immunoassay-based screening test followed by a confirmatory test if the screening test result is positive. In this study, a qualitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for the detection of THCCOOH in human urine, where THCCOOH-glu was converted into THCCOOH by alkaline hydrolysis. For purification of the urine extract prior to instrumental analysis, high-speed centrifugation was used to minimize interference. In addition, an injection-port derivatization method using ethyl acetate and N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide containing 1 % trimethylchlorosilane was employed to reduce the time required for derivatization, and an aliquot of the final solution was injected into the GC-MS. The method was validated by measuring the selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), and repeatability. The sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, Kappa, F-measure, false positive, and false negative rate were determined by comparing the GC-MS results with those obtained using the immunoassay. The LOD was determined to be 0.32 ng/mL, while the repeatability was within 9.1 % for THCCOOH. Furthermore, a comparison study was carried out, whereby the screening immunoassay exhibited a sensitivity of 86.4 % and a specificity of 100 % compared to GC-MS. The applicability of the developed method was examined by analyzing spiked urine and forensic urine samples obtained from suspected cannabis abusers (n = 221).

• Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.643-655
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• 2018

Background/Aims Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease characterized by intestinal dysmotility, the mechanism of which remains elusive. We aim to determine whether the high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), a determinant of cholinergic signaling capacity, modulates intestinal motility associated with stress-induced IBS. Methods A rat IBS model was established using chronic water avoidance stress (WAS). Colonic pathological alterations were evaluated histologically and intestinal motility was assessed by intestinal transit time and fecal water content (FWC). Visceral sensitivity was determined by visceromotor response to colorectal distension. RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining were performed to identify colonic CHT1 expression. Contractility of colonic muscle strips was measured using isometric transducers. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure acetylcholine (ACh). We examined the effects of MKC-231, a choline uptake enhancer, on colonic motility. Results After 10 days of WAS, intestinal transit time was decreased and fecal water content increased. Visceromotor response magnitude in WAS rats in response to colorectal distension was significantly enhanced. Protein and mRNA CHT1 levels in the colon were markedly elevated after WAS. The density of CHT1-positive intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons in WAS rats was higher than in controls. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate partly reversed CHT1 upregulation and alleviated colonic hypermotility in WAS rats. Pharmacological enhancement of CHT1 activity by MKC-231 enhanced colonic motility in control rats via upregulation of CHT1 and elevation of ACh production. Conclusion Upregulation of CHT1 in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons is implicated in chronic stress-induced colonic hypermotility by modulation of ACh synthesis via nuclear factor-kappa B signaling.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2019

Detailed description of malaria in low transmission areas is crucial for elimination. The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive description for malaria transmission in Jazan, a low transmission district, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients at a tertiary care hospital were recruited in our study between August 2016 and September 2018. Malaria diagnosis was performed through a species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR), microscopy and Paramax-$3^{TM}$ rapid detection test (RDT). Malaria was detected in 30 patients by the PCR, with point prevalence of 10.9%. Of these malaria infections, 80% was imported, 26.6% was asymptomatic and 23.3% was sub-microscopic. Malaria was reported throughout the year, with February/March and September/October peaks. Infection was significantly more in males than in females (P=0.01). Likewise, infections were detected more in febrile than in non-febrile patients (P=0.01). Adult aged 15-24 years, fever and travel were identified as high-risk factors. Malaria was primarily attributed to Plasmodium falciparum mono-infections, followed by P. vivax mono-infections and lastly to falciparum/vivax mixed infections accounting 76.6%, 16.6%, and 6.6% of PCR-confirmed malaria cases, respectively. The nested PCR was superior to the smear microscopy (sensitivity 76.6%; specificity 100%) and the RDT (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 94.2%). The overall percent agreement between microscopy and the RDT was 92.7% (kappa=0.63). High proportion of imported malaria including sub-microscopic and sub-patent cases were described. We suggest that incorporation of molecular tool into the conventional malaria diagnosis is beneficial in Jazan district.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-22
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the differences in pre-hospital and in-hospital triage (pre-hospital triage and KTAS(Korean Triage and Acuity Scale)) of patients with abdominal pain and the characteristics of high hospitalization probability in the treatment results. Methods: We analyzed 941 people who visited the area C emergency center for 2 years from January 2017 to December 2018. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: Among the transfer hospitals, 84.8% (798) of patients were selected by the 119 rescue service, and the most common diagnosis was simple abdominal pain (46.5%, 438 patients). A total of 50.7% (477) of patients classified as severe pre-hospital cases changed to mild in-hospital cases. There was a difference of 5.3% (50 cases) in cases where patients classified as mild pre-hospital were changed to severe in-hospital cases. The Kappa coefficient did not match with 0.04 (p=.051). Pre-hospital overtriage was 58.2% (548 cases), and 71.2% (670) of patients were discharged from the emergency room as a result of the treatment. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that pre-hospital and in-hospital triage were not consistent. The rates of pre-hospital overtriage were quite high. Most patients with abdominal pain were classified as mild cases, and pre-hospital triage classifiers should be trained to reduce errors in selecting transfer hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-302
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• 2023

In this paper, we discussed the effect of field plate dielectric materials such as silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and hafnium oxide (HfO₂) on the breakdown characteristics of β-Ga₂O₃ Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). The breakdown voltage (BV) of the SBDs with a field plate was higher than that of SBDs without a field plate. The higher dielectric constant of HfO₂ contributed to the superior reduction in electric field concentration at the Schottky junction edge from 5.4 to 2.4 MV/cm. The SBDs with HfO₂ field plate showed the highest BV of 720 V, and constant specific on-resistance (R_on,sp) of 5.6 mΩ·cm², resulting in the highest Baliga's figure-of-merit (BFOM) of 92.0 MW/cm². We also investigated the effect of dielectric thickness and field plate length on BV.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the performance of 2-dimensional (2D) imaging with microscopy coils in delineating teeth and periodontal tissues compared with conventional 3-dimensional(3D) imaging on a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit. Materials and Methods: Twelve healthy participants (4 men and 8 women; mean age: 25.6 years; range: 20-52 years) with no dental symptoms were included. The left mandibular first molars and surrounding periodontal tissues were examined using the following 2 sequences: 2D proton density-weighted (PDw) images and 3D enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation (eTHRIVE) images. Two-dimensional MRI images were taken using a 3 T MRI unit and a 47 mm microscopy coil, while 3D MRI imaging used a 3 T MRI unit and head-neck coil. Oral radiologists assessed dental and periodontal structures using a 4-point Likert scale. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was determined using the weighted kappa coefficient. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare 2D-PDw and 3D-eTHRIVE images. Results: Qualitative analysis showed significantly better visualization scores for 2D-PDw imaging than for 3D-eTHRIVE imaging (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). 2D-PDw images provided improved visibility of the tooth, root dental pulp, periodontal ligament, lamina dura, coronal dental pulp, gingiva, and nutrient tract. Inter-observer reliability ranged from moderate agreement to almost perfect agreement, and intra-observer agreement was in a similar range. Conclusion: Two-dimensional-PDw images acquired using a 3 T MRI unit and microscopy coil effectively visualized nearly all aspects of teeth and periodontal tissues.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.664-671
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high pressure treatment and type of binding agents on the quality characteristics of restructured pork. For binding agents, 2% (w/w) isolated soy protein (SP), 0.5% (w/w) wheat flour (WF) and 0.5% (w/w) ${\kappa}$-carrageenan (KC) were incorporated into meat batter with or without 0.5% (w/w) glucono-${\delta}$-lactone (GdL). The restructured pork was pressurized at varying pressure levels (0.1-450 MPa) for 3 min under ambient temperature and thermal treated at $75^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. As quality parameters of restructured pork, pH, water binding properties, instrumental color and texture profile analysis were determined and compared with control (C, no binder). For type of binders, SP exhibited the best water binding properties, however, the impact on textural properties were lesser than KC and WF. The addition of GdL decreased the pH of restructured pork down to 0.4 unit, while high pressure processing prevented the moisture loss caused from pH decrease by GdL. In particular, meat restructuring efficiency of SP as a binder improved under the presence of GdL. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the potential advantages of low amount of GdL (0.5%, w/w) combined with protein based binder (SP) and high pressure processing in restructuring meat particles.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.205-222
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the characteristics of patients according to nutritional status assessed by five nutritional screening tools: Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), NUTRISCORE, Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) and to compare the agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of these tools. Methods: A total of 952 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy and chemotherapy from January 2009 to December 2012 were included. The patients were categorized into malnutrition and normal status according to five nutritional screening tools one month after surgery. The Spearman partial correlation, Cohen's Kappa coefficient, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of each two screening tools were calculated. Results: Malnutrition was observed in 86.24% of patients based on the PG-SGA and 85.82% based on the NUTRISCORE. When NRI or CONUT were applied, the proportions of malnutrition were < 30%. Patients with malnutrition had lower intakes of energy and protein than normal patients when assessed using the PG-SGA, NUTRISCORE, or NRI. Lower levels of albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol and longer postoperative hospital stays were observed among patients with malnutrition compared to normal patients when NRI, PNI, or CONUT were applied. Relatively high agreement for NUTRISCORE relative to PG-SGA was found; the sensitivity was 90.86%, and the AUC was 0.78. When NRI, PNI, and CONUT were compared, the sensitivities were 23.72% for PNI relative to NRI, 44.53% for CONUT relative to NRI, and 90.91% for CONUT relative to PNI. The AUCs were 0.95 for NRI relative to PNI and 0.91 for CONUT relative to PNI. Conclusions: NUTRISCORE had a high sensitivity compared to PG-SGA, and CONUT had a high sensitivity compared to PNI. NRI had a high specificity compared to PNI. This relatively high sensitivity and specificity resulted in 77.00% agreement between PNI and CONUT and 77.94% agreement between NRI and PNI. Further cohort studies will be needed to determine if the nutritional status assessed by PG-SGA, NUTRISCORE, NRI, PNI, and CONUT predicts the gastric cancer prognosis.