• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.164-173
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia is a major cause of diabetes and diabetesrelated diseases. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a short-chain fatty acid derivative that produces dietary fiber by anaerobic bacterial fermentation in the large intestine and occurs in foods, such as Parmesan cheese and butter. Butyrate has been shown to prevent obesity, improve insulin sensitivity, and ameliorate dyslipidemia in diet-induced obese mice. Therefore, this study examined the effects and mechanism of NaB on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines induced by high glucose (HG) in THP-1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: THP-1 cells were used as an in vitro model for HG-induced inflammation. The cells were cultured under normal glycemic or hyperglycemic conditions with or without NaB (0-25 μM). Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the protein and mRNA levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, acetylated p65, acetyl CREB-binding protein/p300 (CBP/p300), and p300 using THP-1 cells. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT), histone deacetylase (HDAC), and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion activity were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: HG significantly upregulated histone acetylation, acetylation levels of p300, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory cytokine release in THP-1 cells. Conversely, the NaB treatment reduced cytokine release and NF-κB activation in HG-treated cells. It also significantly reduced p65 acetylation, CBP/p300 HAT activity, and CBP/p300 gene expression. In addition, NaB decreased the interaction of p300 in acetylated NF-κB and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NaB suppresses HG-induced inflammatory cytokine production through HAT/HDAC regulation in monocytes. NaB has the potential for preventing and treating diabetes and its related complications.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2023

Prostate cancer ranks as the world's second most frequently diagnosed cancer among men, and is responsible for the fifth highest number of cancer-related deaths in this population. The development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer remains a major challenge in the field of oncology. Over the past few years, the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has raised as a hopeful tracer for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.Various radioisotopes, such as ¹³¹I, ^99mTc, ⁶⁸Ga, and ¹⁷⁷Lu, have been used to label PSMA analogues, with varying degrees of success. Among these, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 and ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 have emerged as the most promising radioligands for clinical use. Recently, researchers have been exploring the use of other radioisotopes, such as ²¹¹At, ⁸⁹Zr, ^64/67Cu, and ^203/212Pb, for the labeling of PSMA-targeted radioligands. These radioisotopes have unique properties that may offer advantages over existing radioligands, such as longer half-lives, higher specific activities, and different emission profiles. Efforts are currently underway to develop these radiopharmaceuticals and make them more widely available for clinical use. These exciting developments highlight the potential of PSMA-targeted radioligands for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, and provided significant implications for the management of this disease in the future. The current study aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research and clinical applications of radiolabeled PSMA inhibitors for diagnoses and therapy of prostate cancer, emphasizing the exciting developments in the field and their potential impact on clinical practice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.304-309
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• 2023

Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health burden and a major cause of illness in developing countries. The diseases lead to various health threats, including growth retardation and mental health-related disorders, especially in children. We assessed the risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months residing in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from 1,048 children aged 12-59 months whose stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and whose results were registered in the laboratory information system in 2020. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children aged 12-59 months was 53.2%. The dominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), followed by Giardia lamblia (10.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.9%), Trichuris trichiura (6.5%), hookworms (1.7%), and Taenia species (1.4%). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasites and the literacy of mothers or children's caregivers (odds ratio (OR)=5.09, P<0.001). Children from farming households were 2.8-fold more likely to contract intestinal parasitic infections than those from nonfarming households (OR=2.8, P<0.001). A significant association was also observed between intestinal parasites and food safety (OR=4.9, P<0.001). Intestinal parasitic infections were significantly associated with hand hygiene practices after using the toilet and washing fresh fruits before eating (P<0.001). The information gathered will help public health providers and partners develop control plans in highly endemic areas in Rwanda.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.101-118
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• 2023

The 'MZ generation' is accustomed to expressing their thoughts and opinions online. As a result, the role of social media in understanding the opinions and public sentiment of the MZ generation has become increasingly important. In particular, the role of social media in understanding the opinions of young people in political contexts such as policies and elections is becoming more significant. Traditionally, in such political situations, various institutions conduct opinion surveys to grasp the opinions of the people. However, existing opinion surveys have many errors and limitations in understanding the specific opinions of the entire population since they are conducted on arbitrary individuals through survey techniques. Online communities are representative social media that share the opinions of the public on specific issues such as politics, economics, and culture. Therefore, online communities are widely used as a means to supplement the limitations of traditional opinion polls. In particular, the MZ generation is familiar with online platforms, and their political support has significant influence on election results and policy decisions. With this regard, this study analyzed the relationship between the sentiment reflected in online community text data by age group on major candidates and public opinion survey support rates during the Korean presidential election for those in their 20s. The analysis showed that negative sentiments reflected in online communities by the MZ generation have a negative correlation with public opinion survey support rates. This study contributes to theory and practice by revealing a significant association between social media and public opinion polls.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.11-23
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• 2023

Purpose : The stress of job-seeking college students is gradually worsening due to the continuing recession in the job market. Therefore, this study aims to verify whether intervention with an 'aromatherapy education program,' which combines theory and practice, has greater effect on stress, self-efficacy, and autonomic nervous system function than simple inhalation of essential oils in female college students preparing for employment. Methods : A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted once a week for a total of 4 weeks with 29 female college students preparing for employment. Interventions included essential oil inhalation combined with an aromatherapy education program (experimental group(EG), n=14) and essential oil inhalation alone (control group(CG), n=15); measurements were taken before, immediately after, and 2 weeks after completion of the intervention. Evaluations were conducted using the job-seeking stress scale, stress VAS, self-efficacy scale, and a pulse-wave measuring instrument. Results : There were significant differences between the CG and EG groups with repeated measurements of job-seeking stress (p=.003), cognitive stress (p<.001), and self-efficacy (p<.001). There was a significant interaction between group and time. There were also significant differences between the CG and EG in terms of autonomic nervous system changes stress index(p=.047), total power(p=.029), high frequency(p=.036), and low frequency/high frequency ratio(p=.049). However, there was no significant difference in low frequency between the groups. Conclusion : The aromatherapy education program was more effective in improving job-seeking stress, cognitive stress, self-efficacy, and autonomic nervous system function than simple essential oil inhalation. For the aromatherapy education program to be useful as a complementary intervention for stress management in job seekers, it will be necessary to gather additional evidence of its efficacy by conducting follow-up studies with diverse participants and expanding the numbers, and durations, of the interventions.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.249-265
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• 2023

Purpose: Infant regurgitation is associated with other functional gastrointestinal disorders and signs and symptoms that have a major impact on the quality of life of infants and their families. This study evaluated the safety, tolerance, and real-world effectiveness of an anti-regurgitation formula containing locust bean gum (LBG), prebiotics, and postbiotics to alleviate digestive symptoms beyond regurgitation. Methods: This 3-month study involved infants with regurgitation requiring the prescription of an anti-regurgitation formula according to usual clinical practice. Outcomes included evaluation of the evolution of stool consistency and frequency; occurrence of colic, constipation, and diarrhea; and assessment of regurgitation severity. Infant crying, parental assessment of infant well-being, and parental satisfaction with the stool consistency were also evaluated. Results: In total, 190 infants (average age: 1.9±1.1 months) were included. After three months, stool frequency and consistency remained within the normal physiological range, with 82.7% of infants passing one or two stools per day and 90.4% passing loose or formed stools. There was no significant increase in the number of infants with diarrhea, whereas a decrease was observed in the number of infants with constipation after 1 month (p=0.001) and with colic after both 1 and 3 months (p<0.001). Regurgitation severity and crying decreased and parental satisfaction with stool consistency, formula acceptability, infant well-being, and sleep quality increased. Monitoring of adverse events did not reveal any safety concerns. Conclusion: Formulas containing LBG, prebiotics, and postbiotics were well tolerated and provided an effective strategy for managing infant regurgitation and gastrointestinal discomfort.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.384-387
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• 2022

This study was conducted to design and apply simulation-based problem-based learning classes, and then analyze the effects of class management using focus group interviews. In paramedicine, practical learning that can respond to various emergency situations based on major knowledge is important. In the case of problem-based learning classes, it is suitable for operating various topics covered by the Department of Paramedicine as it can improve capabilities such as problem-solving strategies, skills, and teamwork by providing practicality related to field situations for learning. This study developed a PBL module focusing on patients with dyspnea and applied it to medical emergencies and practice courses taken by 16 third graders of S University's Paramedicine department. Overall class satisfaction was high from 4.76 to 4.92. In particular, by resetting the learning strategy through PBL classes and experiencing cooperative learning, positive learning outcomes could be obtained and self-efficacy was experienced.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.89-122
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• 2009

This study was carried out to analyze the job of care managers in their social welfare practicing fields about the frequency of care management duties they perform, types of duties considered to be most important and the reason, and types of jobs counted to be the most difficult and the reason by qualitative case study research methods. The job area of care management was elicited using DACUM method, and those 9 job areas derived from it were analysed according to frequency of performance, importance and difficulty. The subjects were 10 social workers serving more than 3 years with major duty of care management and chosen by reputational-case selection, and those collected data analysis was operated according to embedded analysis types. We discussed the implication of this research. : The experience of participants are the process of maintaining the tension, and search the equilibrium point between client centered service and institutional pressure. According to the results we proposed ① Construction of community based social work network, ② Institutional installation for guarantee care manager's Job competence ③ Standard manual for equilibrium and upward equalization

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.297-306
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes has continued to increase globally. Changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, increased stress, and aging are major contributors. Glycemic control is the key strategy of diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization of nutrition labels and related factors among patients with diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. General, health-related, diabetes-related characteristics from 1,587 adults with diabetes history were included. Nutrition label utilization was assessed with awareness and use of nutrition labels and effects on food choice. For statistical analyses, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of awareness, use, and effects of nutrition labels on food choice among diabetic patients were 48.8%, 11.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. High monthly income, walking frequency, family history of diabetes, younger age at diagnosis, and shorter duration of diabetes were associated with higher nutrition label awareness. Nutrition label use and effect on food choice were higher in women, those with high monthly income, those diagnosed at younger than 45 yrs, those with diabetes for less than 10 yrs, those with meal therapy, or patients who had undergone a fundus examination. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition label utilization status was low in Korean patients with diabetes. Strategies are needed to promote nutrition label use as a diet management tool for patients with diabetes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-268
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Zinc is an essential trace mineral which is important for the growth and development of the human body and immunological and neurological functions. Inadequate zinc intake may cause zinc deficiency with its adverse consequences. In this study, we aimed to estimate the dietary zinc intake levels and sources among Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For this secondary analysis, we obtained data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2019. Individuals aged ≥ 1 yr who had completed a 24-h recall were included. The dietary zinc intake of each individual was calculated by applying data from a newly developed zinc content database to the KNHANES raw data. We also compared the extracted data with the sex-, age-specific reference values suggested in the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes 2020. The prevalence of adequate zinc intake was then evaluated by the proportion of the individuals who met the estimated average requirement (EAR). RESULTS: The mean zinc intake of Koreans aged ≥ 1 yr and adults aged ≥ 19 yrs were 10.2 and 10.4 mg/day, equivalent to 147.4% and 140.8% of the EAR, respectively. Approximately 2 in 3 Koreans met the EAR for zinc, but the zinc intake differed slightly among the different age and sex groups. In children aged 1-2 yrs, 2 out of 5 exceeded the upper level of intake, and nearly half of the younger adults (19-29 yrs) and the elders (≥ 75 yrs) did not meet the EAR. The major contributing food groups were grains (38.9%), meats (20.4%), and vegetables (11.1%). The top 5 food contributors to zinc intake were rice, beef, pork, egg, and baechu kimchi, which accounted for half of the dietary intake. CONCLUSION: The mean zinc intake among Koreans was above the recommended level, but 1 in 3 Koreans had inadequate zinc intake and some children were at risk of excessive zinc intake. Our study included zinc intake from diet only, thus to better understand zinc status, further research to include intake from dietary supplements is needed.