• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2005

- Objective Osteoporosis is one of the characteristic adult diseases, high prevalence, many complications, easy fracture, important health problem. this study, compared analysis BMD data of the lumbar spine and femur - Methods For the 100 female patients,

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.316-328
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and abundance of 9 representative periodontal pathogens in the saliva samples of periodontally healthy subjects (PH) and patients with periodontitis who underwent supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). The age-specific distribution of these pathogens in periodontally healthy individuals was also analyzed. Methods: One hundred subjects (aged >35 years) were recruited (50 each in the PH and SPT groups) between August 2016 and April 2019. The prevalence and abundance of periodontal pathogens in the PH group were compared with those in periodontally healthy young subjects (94 subjects; aged <35 years), who were included in our previous study. DNA copy numbers of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Treponema denticola (Td), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (Pa), and Eikenella corrodens (Ec) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The detection frequencies of all pathogens, except Aa, were high in the PH and SPT groups. The ranking order of pathogen DNA copy numbers was similar in both groups. In both groups, Fn had the highest abundance, Aa had the lowest abundance. Additionally, Td was significantly more abundant in men than in women in both groups (P<0.05). Compared with the PH group, the SPT group exhibited significantly lower total bacteria and Fn abundance and higher Pg abundance (P<0.05). The age-specific pathogen distribution analysis revealed a significantly low Aa abundance and high Tf and Cr abundance in the PH group. Conclusions: The clinical parameters and microbial profiles were similar between the SPT and PH groups. However, patients with periodontitis require supportive care to prevent recurrence. As the abundance of some bacteria varied with age, future studies must elucidate the correlation between age-related physiological changes and periodontal bacterial composition.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.9-12
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• 2019

One of the major challenges in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) for drug dependence is the physiological side effects on endocrine hormones. Because of the key role of the thyroid gland in the normal functioning of the human body and brain, this study examined the effect of MMT on thyroid function. Thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)) were evaluated in normal and user treated with MMT who were referred to the Province Clinical & Pathology Center of Urmia, Iran. The study was conducted for three months using the Case Series method. A total of 270 samples were collected, 215 were from individuals who were not treated, whereas 55 were from men treated with methadone. Average levels of T3 and T4 in non-treated sample of men are $1.34{\pm}0.02ng/mL$ and $90.96{\pm}1.38ng/mL$ while the corresponding values for patients treated with methadone are $1.39{\pm}0.04ng/mL$ for T3 and $94.57{\pm}2.72ng/mL$ for T4. Mean TSH levels of the non-treated group and the methadone consuming group were $1.75{\pm}0.08{\mu}IU/mL$ and $3.17{\pm}0.45{\mu}IU/mL$, respectively. These results indicate that although men treated with methadone had higher levels of T3, T4, and TSH than normal individuals, only the difference in TSH level was significant. The importance of this difference among individuals on methadone maintenance programs should be investigated in larger samples over long periods of time. Additionally, the effects of methadone treatment on women should be examined.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2021

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital heart disease. However, the details of cardiac chamber remodeling after surgery are not well known, although this is an important issue that should be analyzed to understand long-term outcomes. Methods: Between November 2017 and January 2019, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed preoperatively, at a 1-month postoperative follow-up, and at a 1-year postoperative follow-up. Cardiac chamber volume, valve regurgitation volume, and ejection fraction were measured as functions of time. Results: Thirteen patients (10 men and 3 women) were included. The median age at surgery was 51.4 years. The preoperative median ratio of flow in the pulmonary and systemic circulation was 2.3. The preoperative mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVi) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVi) had significantly decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The decrease in the RVEDVi (p=0.085) and RVESVi (p=0.023) continued until the postoperative 1-year follow-up, although the rate of decrease was slower. Tricuspid valve regurgitation had also decreased at the 1-month postoperative follow-up (p=0.022), and continued to decrease at a reduced rate (p=0.129). Although the RVEDVi and RVESVi improved after ASD closure, the RV volume parameters were still larger than the left ventricular (LV) volume parameters at the 1-year follow-up (RVEDVi vs. LVEDVi: p=0.016; RVESVi vs. LVESVi: p=0.001). Conclusion: Cardiac remodeling after ASD closure is common and mainly occurs in the early postoperative period. However, complete normalization does not occur.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.156-165
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• 2020

330 Korean adult women were examined the correlation between degree of makeup and makeup satisfaction before/after wearing masks due to COVID-19 and the moderating effect of mandatory/voluntary goal-oriented attitude toward makeup. The study found that lip makeup(p<.001) was significant variable in makeup satisfaction before COVID-19, and eyebrow makeup(0<.002) was significant after COVID-19. Although moderating effect of mandatory goal-oriented attitude, which works between degree of makeup before/after COVID-19 and makeup satisfaction was not significant, but moderating effect of voluntary goal-oriented attitude appeared to be significant before(p<.000) and after(p<.000) COVID-19. And the degree of makeup after COVID-19 was lower than before(p<.000). If one believe that makeup is for one's own satisfaction, degree of makeup can be significant effect on the makeup satisfaction, but actual behavior has shown that degree of makeup has decreased since wearing masks because of COVID-19. I hope this research will be used as marketing material for beauty and cosmetics industry.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.283-292
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• 2022

Colibactins (clb) and Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factors (cnf) are virulence factors that impact cell cycle through cellular differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common among type of infection among outpatients, with a lifetime incidence of about 60-65% in adult females. Here, we sought to isolate uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPCE) from urine specimens and investigates the prevalence of clb A, B and cnf 1, 2 genes among these isolates. A total of 110 E. coli isolates were collected from patients with UTIs. All the isolates were examined for their hemolytic activity and only 46 isolates showed a halo zone of hemolysis on blood agar. The collected UPEC isolates were screened for the existence of clb A, B and cnf genes. The results revealed that out of 110 isolates, 28 harbored the clbA gene, 40 harbored clb B, and 24 isolates harboured cnf1. 13 isolates harbored clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes, while no cnf2 gene was detected among isolates. The molecular detection revealed that 8 out of 28 hemolytic isolates carrying the clbA, 11 out of 40 were carrying clbB, 1 out of 24 were carrying cnf 1, and 5 out of 9 carrying clbA+clbB. Furthermore, 7 out of 13 isolates were hemolytic and carrying clbA, clbB, and cnf1 genes. Finally, we investigated the cytotoxicity of E. coli harboring clb and cnf genes, eukaryotic REF cells were exposed to E. coli producing colibactin, which induces DNA damage and leads to cell cycle arrest, senescence and death.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.15-23
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• 2020

[Purpose] Lactate is a principal energy substrate for the brain during exercise. A single bout of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) can increase the blood lactate level, brain lactate uptake, and executive function (EF). However, repeated HIIE can attenuate exercise-induced increases in lactate level and EF. The lactate levels in the brain and blood are reported to be correlated with exercise-enhanced EF. However, research is yet to explain the cause-and-effect relationship between lactate and EF. This study examined whether lactate consumption improves the attenuated exercise-enhanced EF caused by repeated HIIE. [Methods] Eleven healthy men performed two sets of HIIE, and after each set, 30 min were given for rest and examination. In the 2^nd set, the subjects consumed experimental beverages containing (n = 6) and not containing (n = 5) lactate. Blood, cardiovascular, and psychological variables were measured, and EF was evaluated by the computerized color-word Stroop test. [Results] The lactate group had a higher EF (P < 0.05) and tended to have a higher blood lactate level (P = 0.082) than the control group in the 2^nd set of HIIE. Moreover, blood lactate concentration was correlated with the interference score (i.e., reverse score of EF) (r = -0.394; P < 0.05). [Conclusion] Our results suggest that the attenuated exercise-enhanced EF after repeated HIIE can be improved through lactate consumption. However, the role of lactate needs to be elucidated in future studies, as it can be used for improving athletes' performance and also in cognitive decline-related clinical studies.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.744-755
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• 2022

This study sought to verify the shopping values that tourists pursue by purchasing at travel destinations based on tourists' motivation and identify the effects of these values on the types of fashion items preferred by tourists. Furthermore, this study verified the tourist shopping behavior of three Asian countries-Korea, China, and Japan-from a cross-cultural perspective. To obtain a sample that represents tourist shoppers in each country, a survey was conducted on adult men and women in their 20s to 60s, and 986 subjects were collected: 300 Koreans, 385 Chinese, and 301 Japanese. Factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and multigroup SEM were performed on the collected data using SPSS Statistics and AMOS. Based on escaping-seeking theory, tourist intentions were divided into escaping and seeking motivations, and tourist shopping values were divided into functional, emotional, and social. The shopping items were divided into materials and experiential goods to understand the difference between the types preferred by tourists according to the perceived value. In addition, differences in tourist shopping behaviors according to the three nationalities were identified. The findings illustrate that the escaping motive affects emotional and social values, whereas the seeking motive affects all three. Moreover, it was confirmed that functional and emotional values affect preference for material and experiential goods, but social value only affects preference for material goods. For the cross-cultural study, differences in tourist shopping behavior according to nationality were identified.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2023

Background: Complete surgical excision is the only curative treatment for primary cardiac tumors. For wide excision, interatrial septal reconstruction (ISR) is commonly performed. We hypothesized that ISR may increase the risk of postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) after surgical resection of cardiac myxoma. Methods: After excluding patients with a history of cardiac surgery and concomitant procedures unrelated to tumor resection and those with AT or permanent pacemakers, we finally enrolled 272 adult patients who underwent benign cardiac tumor surgery from 1995 to 2021 at our institution. They were divided into the ISR (n=184) and non-ISR (n=88) groups. The primary outcome was postoperative new-onset AT. Results: The study cohort predominantly consisted of women (66.2%), with a mean age of 57.2±13.6 years. The incidence of postoperative new-onset AT was 15.4%. No 30-day mortality or recurrence was observed. The cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time were significantly longer in the ISR group than in the non-ISR group (p<0.001). The median duration of hospital stay of all patients was 6.0 days (interquartile range, 5.0-7.0 days), and no significant difference was observed between the 2 groups (p=0.329). ISR was not an independent predictor of new-onset AT (p=0.248). Male sex and hypertension were found to be independent predictors of new-onset AT. Conclusion: ISR was not a significant predictor of postoperative new-onset AT. ISR might be a feasible and safe procedure for surgical resection of cardiac myxoma and should be considered if needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless aortic valves may enable shorter procedure times, which benefits patients with elevated surgical risk. We describe the outcomes of patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the sutureless Perceval aortic bioprosthesis. Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort were obtained from a clinical database. The study enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent surgical AVR with a sutureless bioprosthesis between August 2015 and December 2020. In total, 113 patients were included (mean age, 75.3±8.4 years; 57.5% women; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 9.7%; mean follow-up period, 51.19±20.6 months). Of these patients, 41 were octogenarians (36.2%) and 3 were nonagenarians (2.6%). Transthoracic echocardiography was employed to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, and 13 patients developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 patients (2.6%). The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), and the median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 9.5-15 days). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 95.9%. LVMI and MPG were reduced postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period. No structural valve deterioration was observed, and no meaningful paravalvular leakage developed during follow-up. Conclusion: The use of a sutureless valve in the aortic position is safe and feasible, even for high-risk elderly patients requiring surgical AVR. LVMI and MPG decreased postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period.