• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.584-591
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• 2018

This study was conducted to determine the levels of cognitive impairment (MMSE-K) among centenarians, and to reveal their association with related variables. The study subjects were 268 centenarians who received medical check-ups from the National Health Insurance Corporation during the period of 2016-2017. The levels of cognitive impairment were significantly reduced among females as well as those living with spouses and children, lower monthly income, lower BMI and individuals who engaged in smoking and alcohol consumption without regular exercise relative to their respective counterparts. The risk of definitive cognitive impairment in study subjects was significantly higher among women (ORs=9.85, 95% CI=2.88-33.59) than men and was lower in obese group (ORs=0.25, 95% CI=0.07-0.86) than in low weight groups, as well as in non-smoking (ORs=0.30, 95% CI=0.10-0.83) than smoking groups. The factors influencing the cognitive impairment of study subjects were sex, living status, monthly income, BMI and smoking status. Taken together, these results suggest that the levels of cognitive impairments among centenarians differed significantly in response to socio-demographic characteristics and health related variables. Especially, the levels of cognitive impairments decreased among those with poor health related variables such as smoking, alcohol consumption and regular exercise.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.221-234
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• 2019

Cancer is genetically, metabolically and infectiously induced life threatening disorder showing aggressive growing pattern with invasive tendency. In order to prevent this global menace from jeopardizing human life, enormous studies on carcinogenesis and treatment for chemotherapy resistance have been intensively researched. Hinokitiol (${\beta}$-thujaplicin) extracted from heart wood of cupressaceous is a well-known bioactive compound demonstrating anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria and anti-cancer effects on several cancer types via apoptosis and autophagy. This study proposed that hinokitiol activates transcription factor EB (TFEB) nuclear translocation for autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis regardless of nutrient condition in cancer cells. Mitophagy and ${\beta}$-catenin translocation into the nucleus under treatment of hinokitiol on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and HeLa cells were investigated. Hinokitiol exerted cytotoxicity on HeLa and HCC827 cells; moreover, artificially induced autophagy by overexpression of TFEB granted imperfect sustainability onto HeLa cells. Taken together, hinokitiol is the prominent autophagy inducer and activator of TFEB nuclear translocation. Alternative cancer therapy via autophagy is pros and cons since the autophagy in cancer cells is related to prevention and survival mechanism depending on nutrition. To avoid paradox of autophagy in cancer therapy, fine-tuned regulation and application of hinokitiol in due course for successful suppressing cancer cells are recommended.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2019

The synthesis of captopril as an important chiral drug in commerce needs expensive resolution process of racemic mixture. Microorganisms, producing a thermostable esterase that catalyzes the stereo-selective hydrolysis of methyl DL-${\beta}$-acetylthioisobutyrate (DL-ester) to D-${\beta}$-acetylthioisobutyric acid (DAT) were screened from soils. Among the strains tested, strain No CJ-317 and strain No CJ-187 with highest activity were selected as the best DAT producer. The newly isolated microorganisms were identified respectively, as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas putida. The cell activity of esterase from K. pneumoniae CJ-317 and P. putida CJ-187 were showed an optimal reaction activity at $75^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. Also the cell activity of K. pneumoniae CJ-317 was stable up to $80^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, while that of P. putida CJ-187 was not over $60^{\circ}C$. By varying the concentration of DAT in the reaction mixture, the cell activity of P. putida CJ-187 showed about 55% and 80% of product inhibition in the presence of 2.5% (w/v) and 5.0% of DAT respectively. K. pneumoniae CJ-317 had less product inhibition than P. putida CJ-187 by about 35% and 44% at the same concentrations respectively. The esterase of newly isolated K. pneumoniae CJ-317 could be useful for the stereo-selective hydrolysis of DL-ester to DAT.

• Journal of the Korean Data Analysis Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.2967-2980
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• 2018

In this study, we intended to find out how to improve the relationship performance between a hospital who is a buyer and its suppliers in the medical supply chain. For specific, in control of the transaction period and the number of bed, we investigated the effect of information sharing between a buyer and its suppliers along with the trust for the suppliers' capabilities perceived by the buyer on the buyer's relationship performance. In addition, in control of the transaction period and the number of bed, we also examined the influences of moderating effect of the interactional justice on the relations between information sharing and relationship performance, and between capability-trust and relationship performance. For this, we conducted reliability analysis, exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses, discriminant validity analysis, and moderated multiple regression analysis including control variables. Our results showed that there are positive effects of information sharing between a buyer and suppliers, and the buyer's perceived trust for the suppliers' capability on the relationship performance while controlling the transaction period and the number of bed. Besides, we empirically confirmed that there was the moderating effect of the interactional justice on the relations between capability-trust and relationship performance, whereas we could not find that statistically significant moderating effect of the interactional justice on the relations between information sharing and relationship performance.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2021

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a slowly progressive hereditary degenerative disease and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired immune-mediated disorder characterized by weakness and sensory deficits. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the electrophysiological characteristics observed in sensory nerve conduction studies (SNCS) of both diseases. A retrospective study of 65 patients with a diagnosis of CIDP (N=35) and CMT type I (N=30) was performed. This study analyzed No potentials ratio, distal compound nerve action potential (dCNAP) of various nerve types, and a correlation coefficient analysis of the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV). As a result, I found that CMT 1 was more severe systemic demyelinating and axonal polyneuropathy better than CIDP (P<0.05). In a quantitative analysis of dCNAP and SNCV, especially sural nerve was the most severe nerve injury observed in both diseases. In correlation and scatter plot analysis, CMT 1 showed relatively high correlations compared to CIDP based on the correlation coefficient analysis (Fisher's Z test) of SNCV. The results of this study suggested that CMT 1 showed the slowness in SNCV, one of the characteristics of demyelinating polyneuropathy, and this slowing had a uniform pattern. In conclusion, electrophysiological characteristic of SNCS may be useful in the diagnosis and research between patients with CMT 1 and CIDP.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2021

Purpose: When a patient with acute deterioration occurs in a ward, the decision to transfer to intensive care unit (ICU) is critical to improve the patient's outcomes. However, when available ICU resources limited, it is difficult to determine which of the deteriorating ward patients to transfer to the ICU. Therefore the purpose of this study was to identify risk factors in predicting deteriorating ward patients transferred to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: We reviewed retrospectively clinical data of 2,945 deteriorating ward patients who referred medical emergency team. Data were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. Results: The solid cancer that diagnosed at hospitalization (odds ratio[OR] 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32-0.47), when the cause of deterioration was respiratory problem (1.51; 95% CI 1.17-1.95), high MEWS (1.22; 1.17-1.28) and SpO2/FiO2 score (2.41; 2.23-2.60) were predictive of ICU transfer. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early prediction and treatment of patients with high risk of ICU transfer may improve the prognosis of patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.446-453
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• 2020

By applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) method, we calculated the weight of factors related to the selection of check dam sites and generated basic data related to the selection of the target site. As a result of the AHP classification, three evaluation items(Susceptibility, Vulnerability, and Constructability), 12 evaluation factors (Susceptibility 10, Vulnerability, and Constructability 1), and two-six evaluation criteria in each evaluation factor were selected. After calculating the relative importance by using the selected evaluation items, evaluation factors, and criteria, the vulnerability items such as medical facilities, facilities for the aged, educational facilities, and private homes were found to be higher than the other items. When the relative weight for deciding qualified sites was applied to the forest watersheds in the Gangwon region, 8,601 forest watersheds(35.2 % of the total forest watersheds) were found to be suitable for the installation of check dams.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.1003-1011
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• 2020

This study aims to compare and evaluate the image differences between single and dual sources in applying a technique to reduce metal artifacts using dual energy CT. Discovery CT 256 (GE, USA) as a single source device and Somatom Definition Flash (Siemens Health Care, Forchheim, Germany) as a dual source device. The self-made phantom (pigs with medical titanium screws inserted) was quantitative and qualitatively evaluated under the same conditions by varying the dose under the same conditions using a dual energy CT. The evaluation method was compared by measuring SNR for metal artifacts (scattering, stripe) generated by metal inserts, divided around bones and around tissues. There was a difference in images in the method of reducing metal artifacts between single-source and dual-source devices. In a single source device, the linearized prosthesis by metal implantation showed a greater decrease than the image obtained from a double source device, and the surrounding tissue was well observed without interference from the artifact. In dual-source devices, scattering and stripe artifacts caused by metal inserts decreased more than on a single source device, and signals from adjacent tissues surrounding the metal implant were well observed without diminishing. If the examination is conducted separately between single source and dual source devices depending on whether the area to which the patient is intended to be viewed during the examination is adjacent to the metal insert or the total tissue surrounding the metal insert, it is believed that diagnostic helpful images can be obtained.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2021

Objective: Temperature could influence protein and amino acid deposition as well as gut microbiota profile and composition. However, the specific effects of ambient temperature on amino acids deposition and gut microbiota composition remain insufficiently understood. Methods: A total of 300 one-day-old Avian broilers were randomly divided into three groups and reared at high, medium, and low temperature (HT, MT, and LT), respectively. Breast muscle and fecal samples were collected for amino acid composition analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Results: Our data showed that compared to the MT group, there was a decrease of muscle leucine and tyrosine (p<0.05), as well as an increase of methionine in the HT group (p<0.05) and a decrease of serine in the LT group. Examination of microbiota shift revealed that at genus level, the relative abundance of Turicibacter and Parabacteroides was increased in the HT group (p<0.05) and that the relative abundances of Pandoraea, Achromobacter, Prevotella, Brevundimonas, and Stenotrophomonas in the LT group were higher than those in the MT group (p<0.05). In addition, there were substantial correlations between microbes and amino acids. In the HT group. Turicibacter was negatively correlated with aspartic acid and tyrosine, whereas Parabacteroides was positively correlated with methionine (p<0.05). In the LT group, there were multiple positive correlations between Achromobacter and arginine, isoleucine or tyrosine; between Prevotella and cysteine or phenylalanine; between Brevundimonas and cysteine; and between Stenotrophomonas and cysteine as well as a negative correlation between Stenotrophomonas and serine. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that amino acid content of breast muscle and intestinal microbiota profile was affected by different ambient temperatures. Under heat exposure, augmented abundance of Parabacteroides was correlated with elevated methionine. Low temperature treatment may affect muscle tyrosine content through the regulation of Achromobacter.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.297-308
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• 2021

Objective : Shunt infection is a common complication while treating hydrocephalus. The antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheter (AISC) was designed to reduce shunt infection rate. A meta-analysis was conducted to study the effectiveness of AISCs in reduction of shunt infection in terms of age, follow-up time and high-risk patient population. Methods : This study reviewed literature from three databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (from 2000 to March 2019). Clinical studies from controlled trials for shunt operation were included in this analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed based on the patient's age, follow-up time and high-risk population. The fixed effect in RevMan 5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration) was used for this meta-analysis. Results : This study included 19 controlled clinical trials including 10105 operations. The analysis demonstrated that AISC could reduce the infection rate in shunt surgery compared to standard shunt catheter (non-AISC) from 8.13% to 4.09% (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.58; p=0.01; I2=46%). Subgroup analysis of different age groups showed that AISC had significant antimicrobial effects in all three groups (adult, infant, and adolescent). Follow-up time analysis showed that AISC was effective in preventing early shunt infections (within 6 months after implant). AISC is more effective in high-risk population (OR, 0.24;95% CI, 0.14-0.40; p=0.60; I2=0%) than in general patient population. Conclusion : The results of meta-analysis indicated that AISC is an effective method for reducing shunt infection. We recommend that AISC should be considered for use in infants and high-risk groups. For adult patients, the choice for AISC could be determined based on the treatment cost.