• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.210-217
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• 2003

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse splenic macrophages to produce tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha}$) and might play a role in anticancer. To know the effect of M11C on the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, the splenic macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated splenic macrophage-conditioned media; MSCM). MSCM was analyzed for the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by means of ELISA and immunoblotting, and mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. The S-180 murine sarcoma model was established to know the effect of M11C on the inhibition of tumor growth. M11C had the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from splenic macrophages performed by ELISA technique. This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay. The effects of M11C on the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA from the macrophages was also shown. M11C also had the inhibitory effect of S-180 tumor growth. These data suggest that Korean mistletoe extract M11C may be used for an immunomodulator.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.151-161
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• 2021

Objectives : The effects of a combined stimulation of 658 nm, 830 nm, 904 nm, and 1064 nm laser acupuncture treatment (LAT) and electroacupuncture treatment (EAT) on GB39 and GB34 on neuropathic pain in rats induced by tibial and sural nerve transection were studied in this paper. Methods : To express a neuropathic pain model, surgery was performed to transection rats' tibial and sural nerves. The rats were divided into normal group, control group, and experimental groups. In addition, the experimental groups were divided into 658 nm laser and electroacupuncture (LAT658+EAT), 830 nm laser and electroacupuncture (LAT830+EAT), 904 nm laser and electroacupuncture (LAT904+EAT), and 1064 nm laser and electroacupuncture (LAT830+EAT). For the treatment of the experimental groups, electroacupuncture and different laser wavelengths were alternately applied to GB34 and GB39 twice a week for 3 weeks for 1 minute 30 seconds. The withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs by acetone stimulation was observed, as well as the c-Fos in the central gray region in the midbrain of neuropathic rats together with Bax, Bcl2, and mGluR5 expressions associated with apoptosis. Results : Compared with the control group, a significant decrease in the frequency of paw withdrawal in response to acetone allodynia was observed in LAT658+EAT and LAT830+EAT groups in 6th times, LAT904+EAT group in 2^nd, 3^rd, and 6^th times, and LAT1064+EAT group in 2^nd and 6^th times, respectively. For c-fos positive cells in the central gray region, a significant decrease was observed in LAT830+EAT, LAT904+EAT, and LAT1064+EAT groups in comparison with the control group. In Bax expression, LAT1064+EAT group showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. In Bcl-2 expression, the LAT658+EAT,the LAT904+EAT, and the LAT1064+EAT groups increased significantly compared to the control group. LAT830+EAT, LAT904+EAT, and LAT1064+EAT groups showed significantly increased mGlu5 expression compared to the control group. Conclusions : The combination of laser for each wavelength and electroacupuncture alternately performed in this study is thought to be effective in improving neuropathic pain and apoptosis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2019

This study aimed to assess the level of awareness on safe abortion among adolescent girls in rural area of Mahottari district of Nepal. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas of Mahottari district of Southern Nepal between January and March 2019.A sample of 412 adolescent girls was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Multivariable logistic regression model was adapted to explore level of awareness among adolescent girls. This study found that 45.6% of adolescent girls had high awareness regarding safe abortion. The odds of awareness among the married adolescents was higher (AOR=2.16; 95% CI: 1.01-4.87) than unmarried adolescent whereas the odds of awareness among the adolescents who had education of secondary level and more had higher (AOR=2.21; 95%CI: 1.13-3.04) than those who had primary or lower secondary level of education. Similarly, the adolescents who had monthly family income of Nepalese Rupees (NRs.), 10,000-20,000 and more than NRs. 20,000 were respectively, 2.33 times (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.07-3.55) and 3.17 times (AOR = 3.17; 95% CI: 2.19-8.94) more likelihood to have high awareness regarding safe abortion than those their counterparts. The study showed that overall level of knowledge towards safe abortion was found low. Socio-demographic factors like marital status, level of education, and family income were the factors independently associated with level of awareness on safe abortion. Therefore, efforts should be exerted towards arising and improving the awareness of abortion care which may reduce unwanted pregnancy, abortion and other complications related to abortion.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.308-318
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties of fractured adjacent soft tissue during closed reduction after forearm fracture using the finite element method. To accomplish this, a finite element (FE) model of the forearm including soft tissue was constructed, and the material properties reported in previous studies were implemented. Based on this, nine finite element models with different fracture types and fracture positions, which are the main parameters, were subjected to finite element analysis under the same load and boundary conditions. The load condition simulated the traction of increasing the fracture site spacing from 0.4 mm to 1.6 mm at intervals of 0.4 mm at the distal end of the radioulnar bone. Through the finite element analysis, the fracture type, fracture location, and displacement were compared and analyzed for the fracture site spacing of the fractured portion and the maximum equivalent stress of the soft tissues adjacent to the fracture(interosseous membrane, muscle, fat, and skin). The results of this study are as follows. The effect of the major parameters on the fracture site spacing of the fractured part is negligible. Also, from the displacement of 1.2 mm, the maximum equivalent stress of the interosseous membrane and muscle adjacent to the fractured bone exceeds the ultimate tensile strength of the material. In addition, it was confirmed that the maximum equivalent stresses of soft tissues(fat, skin) were different in size but similar in trend. As a result, this study was able to numerically confirm the damage to the adjacent soft tissue due to the fracture site spacing during closed reduction of forearm fracture.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.123-142
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• 2022

The non-face-to-face environment accelerated by COVID-19 has speeded up the dissemination of digital virtual ecosystems and metaverse. In order for the metaverse to be sustainable, digital twins that are compatible with the real world are key, and critical technology for that is AR (Augmented Reality). In this study, we examined research trends about AR, and will propose the directions for future AR research. We conducted LDA based topic modeling on 11,049 abstracts of published domestic and foreign AR related papers from 2009 to Mar 2022, and then looked into AR that was comprehensive research trends, comparison of domestic and foreign research trends, and research trends before and after the popularity of metaverse concepts. As a result, the topics of AR related research were deduced from 11 topics such as device, network communication, surgery, digital twin, education, serious game, camera/vision, color application, therapy, location accuracy, and interface design. After popularity of metaverse, 6 topics were deduced such as camera/vision, training, digital twin, surgical/surgical, interaction performance, and network communication. We will expect, through this study, to encourage active research on metaverse AR with convergent characteristics in multidisciplinary fields and contribute to giving useful implications to practitioners.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.949-958
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of using a deep learning-based analysis of auscultation data to predict significant stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) in patients undergoing hemodialysis requiring percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Materials and Methods: Forty patients (24 male and 16 female; median age, 62.5 years) with dysfunctional native AVF were prospectively recruited. Digital sounds from the AVF shunt were recorded using a wireless electronic stethoscope before (pre-PTA) and after PTA (post-PTA), and the audio files were subsequently converted to mel spectrograms, which were used to construct various deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) models (DenseNet201, EfficientNetB5, and ResNet50). The performance of these models for diagnosing ≥ 50% AVF stenosis was assessed and compared. The ground truth for the presence of ≥ 50% AVF stenosis was obtained using digital subtraction angiography. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was used to produce visual explanations for DCNN model decisions. Results: Eighty audio files were obtained from the 40 recruited patients and pooled for the study. Mel spectrograms of "pre-PTA" shunt sounds showed patterns corresponding to abnormal high-pitched bruits with systolic accentuation observed in patients with stenotic AVF. The ResNet50 and EfficientNetB5 models yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively, at optimized epochs for predicting ≥ 50% AVF stenosis. However, Grad-CAM heatmaps revealed that only ResNet50 highlighted areas relevant to AVF stenosis in the mel spectrogram. Conclusion: Mel spectrogram-based DCNN models, particularly ResNet50, successfully predicted the presence of significant AVF stenosis requiring PTA in this feasibility study and may potentially be used in AVF surveillance.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1249-1259
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis screening. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients who had and had not undergone DXA screening were identified from among those aged 50 years or older at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Age, sex, screening year (index year), and Charlson comorbidity index of the DXA and non-DXA groups were matched using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for propensity score analysis. For cost-effectiveness analysis, a societal perspective, 1-year cycle length, 20-year time horizon, and discount rate of 2% per year for both effectiveness and costs were adopted in the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) model. Results: The outcome analysis included 10337 patients (female:male, 63.8%:36.2%) who were screened for osteoporosis in southern Taiwan between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. The DXA group had significantly better outcomes than the non-DXA group in terms of fragility fractures (7.6% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001) and mortality (0.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001). The DXA screening strategy gained an ICER of US$ -2794 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) relative to the non-DXA at the willingness-to-pay threshold of US$ 33004 (Taiwan's per capita gross domestic product). The ICER after stratifying by ages of 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years were US$ -17815, US$ -26862, US$ -28981, and US$ -34816 per QALY, respectively. Conclusion: Using DXA to screen adults aged 50 years or older for osteoporosis resulted in a reduced incidence of fragility fractures, lower mortality rate, and reduced total costs. Screening for osteoporosis is a cost-saving strategy and its effectiveness increases with age. However, caution is needed when generalizing these cost-effectiveness results to all older populations because the study population consisted mainly of women.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.1 s.114
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• pp.14-29
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• 2006

Developments in computer technology have made possible the 3-dimensional (3-D) evaluation of hard and soft tissues in orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning and post-treatment results. In this study, Korean adults with normal occlusion (male 30, female 30) were scanned by a 3-D laser scanner, then 3-D facial images formed by the Rapidform 2004 program (Inus Technology Inc., Seoul, Korea.). Reference planes in the facial soft tissue 3-D images were established and a 3-D coordinate system (X axis-left/right, Y axis-superior/inferior, Z axis-anterior/posterior) was established by using the soft tissue nasion as the zero point. Twenty-nine measurement points were established on the 3-D image and 43 linear measurements, 8 angular measurements, 29 linear distance ratios were obtained. The results are as follows; there were significant differences between males and females in the nasofrontal angle $(male:\;142^{\circ},\;female:\;147^{\circ})$ and transverse nasal prominence $(male:\;112^{\circ},\;female:\;116^{\circ})$ (p<0.05). The transverse upper lip prominence was $107^{\circ}$ in males, $106^{\circ}$ in females and the transverse mandibular prominence was $76^{\circ}$ in both males and females. Li-Me' was 0.4 times the length of Go-Me'(mandibular body length) and the mouth height was also 0.4 times the width of the mouth width. The linear distance ratio from the coronal reference plane of FT, Zy, Pn, ULPm, Li, Me' was -1/-1/1/0.5/0.5/-0.6 respectively. The 3-D facial model of Korean adults with normal occlusion were be constructed using coordinate values and linear measurement values. These data may be used as a reference in 3-D diagnosis and treatment planning for malocclusion and dentofacial deformity patients and applied for 3-D analysis of facial soft tissue changes before and after orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 1999

This study attempts to encourage the development of a rehabilitation delivery system as a substitute service for hospitalization such as a community based intermediate facility or home health care. We need substitute services for hospitalization to curtail the length of stay for inpatients due to car accidents. It focused on developing an estimation for early discharge based on a detailed statement of treatment from medical records of 109 inpatients who were hospitalized at General Hospital in 1997. This study has three specific purposes: First, to find the mean length of stay and mean medical expenditure. Second, to estimate the mean of early discharge from the mean length of stay. Third, to analyize the income effect per bed from early discharge. In order to analyze the length of stay and medical expenditure of inpatients the author conducted a micro and macro-analysis with medical expenditure records. To estimate the early discharge we examined with a group of 4 experts decreases in the amount of treatment after surgery, in treatments, in tests, in drug methods. We also looked their vital signs, the start of ROM exercise, the time removel, a patient's visitations, and possible stable conditions. In addition to identifing the income effect due to an early discharge, the data was analyzed by an SPSS-PC for windows and Excell program with a regression analysis model. The research findings are as follows: First, the mean length of stay was 47.56 days, but the mean length of stay due to early discharge was 32.26 days. The estimation of early discharge days was shown to depend on the length of stay. The longer the length of stay, the longer the length before discharge. For example, if the patient stayed under 14 days the mean length of stay was 7.09 while an early discharge was 6.39, whereas if the mean length of stay was 155.73, the early discharge time was 107.43. The mean medical expenditure per day of car accident patients was found to be 169,085 Won, whereas the mean medical expenditure per day was shown to be in a negative linear form according to the length of stay. That is the mean expenditure for under 14 days of stay was 303,015 Won and the period of the hospitalization of 15 days to 29 days was 170,338 Won and those of 30 days to 59 days was 113,333 Won. The estimation of the income effect due to being discharged 16 days was around 2,350,000 Won with a regression analysis model. However, this does not show the real benefits from an early discharge, but only the income increasing amount without considering prime medical cost at a general hospital. Therefore, we need further analysis on cost containments and benefits incending turn over rates and medical prime costs. From these research findings, the following suggestions have been drawn, we need to develop strategies on a rehabilitation delivery system focused on consumers for the 21st century. Varions intermediate facilities and home health care should be developed in the community as a substitute for shortening the length of stay in hospitals. In home health care cases, patients who want rehabilitation services as a substitute for hospitalization in cooperation with private health insurance companies might be available immediately.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1998

Purpose : To study whether a low protein diet increase the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy on the progression of renal failure, we conducted an experimental study using 5/6 nephrectomized rats(n=63). Methods : At 7 days after surgery, rats were randomly assigned to three groups according to receiving antihypertensive drug: no antihypertensive drug (U), enalapril (E), and nicardipine (N), respectively and fed a low protein diet (6$\%$ protein). Proteinuria, mesangial matrix expansion score and glomerular volume were assessed at 4, 12 and 16 weeks after renal ablation. Results : Group U rats on a low protein diet developed progressive hypertension ($140{\pm}8,\;162{\pm}5,\;171{\pm}5\;and\;184{\pm}11\;mmHg$ at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks) which were controlled by E and N. Group U rats on a low protein diet developed proteinuria ($74{\pm}15\;mg/day$ at 16 weeks) which were decreased by E ($42{\pm}12 mg/day$) or N ($48{\pm}8 mg/day$) (p<0.05). Mesangial matrix expansion score and glomerular volume were not different between groups U, E and N on a low protein diet regardless of the antihypertensive drugs administered. Conclusion : A low protein diet did not affect blood pressure. Enalapril and nicardipine-treated rats on a low protein diet did not have different mesangial matrix expansion and glomerular volumes from rats on a low protein diet at 12 weeks and 16 weeks, in spite of the better controlling of systemic hypertension and lessening of proteinuria. Thus, combined treatment with a low protein diet and antihypertensive drugs didn't appear to show any addition,11 effects to attenuate glomerular injury.