• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of acculturation stage on dietary intake of Korean American women (0=124) living in California and to compare the dietary intake with that of Korean women (0=191) in Seoul, Korea. The dietary intake of the subjects was collected by 24-hour recall method at cross-sectional surveys. Ouster analysis performed on immigration variables (e.g., length of residency, age at immigration, etc.) classified Korean American women into less (0=73) or more (n=51) acculturated group. Acculturation stage did not have a significant effect on macro nutrient intake. However, vitamin C intake was higher in the more acculturated group, while intakes of folate, calcium, iron, and zinc were higher in the less acculturated group. In comparison of three groups (the more and the less acculturated Korean American, and the Korean group), the more acculturated the women were, the less frequently they consumed rice and kimchi (p<0.05). Korean American women ate bread/noodle, meat/meat products, fruit juice, and soda more often and consumed vegetables less frequently, compared with Korean women (p<0.05). For breakfast, Western dishes were preferred in both more and less acculturated groups. Korean dishes were favored for dinner by both groups, even though the less acculturated group ate more Korean dishes than did the more acculturated group. The acculturation measured by immigration variables influenced nutrient intakes, food consumptions, and types of dishes eaten in Korean Americans. Cultural and health implications of dietary acculturation need to be studied in the future.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.318-323
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• 2016

Objectives: Except the known risk factors for stroke, few studies have identified novel metabolic markers that could effectively detect stroke at an early stage. In this study, we explored the dose-response relationship between serum metabolites and the incidence of stroke. Methods: We studied 213 adults in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II) biobank and estimated dose-response relationship between serum metabolites and stroke (42 cases and 171 controls). Three serum metabolites (Acetylcholine, HexadecylAcetylGlycerol, and 1-acetyl-2-formyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) were used in this study. The analysis included (1) exploratory nonlinear analysis, (2) estimation of flexion points and slopes at below and above the points. In the model to estimate risk of incidence of stroke, we controlled for conventional risk factors such as age, sex, systolic blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, triglyceride, and smoking status. Results: The relationship between incidence of stroke and log-transformed 1-acetyl-2-formyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was non-linear with flexion point around intensity score of 8.8, whereas other metabolites, log-transformed Acetylcholine and HexadecylAcetylGlycerol, showed negative linear patterns. Conclusions: The study suggests that metabolic markers are associated with incidence of stroke, particularly, at or above the flexion point. The study result may contribute to developing a novel system for precise stroke prediction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.169-177
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• 2019

From the past to the present, justice has attracted many people's attention. Most of the previous studies carried out in relation to justice are studies of the resulting variables, and there is a great advantage that they let us know about the importance of justice. However, the findings are focused only on the behavior of the members of the organization according to the status of justice already perceived. Therefore, studies on the antecedent of justice are also necessary to understand justice accurately. This study identifies the factors that can directly affect justice and the contextual factors that could moderate their relationship. In particular, using the '2017 Public Employee Perception Survey' released by the Korea Institute of Public Administration, we examined how innovative behavior of public employees affects the perception of distributive justice and how the relative professionalism, which is the situation variable, moderates the relationship between variables. A regression analysis of 321 public employees showed that innovative behavior affects the perception of distributive justice, and that the positive relationship of innovation behavior to the perception of distributive justice is weakened when the level of individual perceived relative professionalism is high.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2018

We reviewed clinical studies investigating the pharmacological treatment of major depressive episodes (MDEs) with mixed features diagnosed according to the dimensional criteria (more than two or three [hypo]manic symptoms+principle depressive symptoms). We systematically reviewed published randomized controlled trials on the pharmacological treatment of MDEs with mixed features associated with mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases through December 2017 with the following key word combinations linked with the word OR: (a) mixed or mixed state, mixed features, DMX, mixed depression; (b) depressive, major depressive, MDE, MDD, bipolar, bipolar depression; and (c) antidepressant, antipsychotic, mood stabilizer, anticonvulsant, treatment, medication, algorithm, guideline, pharmacological. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We found few randomized trials on pharmacological treatments for MDEs with mixed features. Of the 36 articles assessed for eligibility, 11 investigated MDEs with mixed features in mood disorders: six assessed the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs (lurasidone and ziprasidone) in the acute phase of MDD with mixed features, although four of these were post hoc analyses based on large randomized controlled trials. Four studies compared antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine, lurasidone, and ziprasidone) with placebo, and one study assessed the efficacy of combination therapy (olanzapine+fluoxetine) in the acute phase of BD with mixed features. Pharmacological treatments for MDEs with mixed features have focused on antipsychotics, although evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Additional well-designed clinical trials are needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

The first hospice care center in Korea dates back to the East West Infirmaries (Dongseodaebiwon in the Korean language) of the Goryeo period in the early 11th century. It has been 50 years since hospice care was introduced in Korea. Initially hospice care was provided in the private sector, including those with a religious background, and its development was slow. In the 1990s, related religious organizations and academic associations were established, and then, a full-swing growth phase was ushered in as the Korean government institutionalized hospice care in the early 2000s. As a result, enhanced quality of hospice care service could be provided, which meant better pain management and higher quality of life for late stage cancer patients and their families. Still, the nation lacked a realistic reimbursement system which was needed to for financial stability of the affected patients. However, the national health insurance scheme began to cover hospice palliative expenses in 2015. In 2016, the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients in Hospice and Palliative Care or at the End of Life was legislated, allowing terminally-ill patients to refuse meaningless life-sustaining treatments. As the range of diseases subject to hospice palliative care was expanded, more challenges and issues need to be addressed by the service providers.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.9
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• pp.1377-1384
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• 2018

Accurate measurement of the absorbed dose and the effective dose is required in dental panoramic radiography involving relatively low energy with a rotational X-ray tube system using long exposures. To determine the effectiveness of measuring the irradiation by using passive dosimetry, we compared the entrance skin doses by using a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter (RPL) and an optically stimulated luminescence detector (OSL) in a phantom model consisting of nine and 31 transverse sections. The parameters of the panoramic device were set to 80 kV, 4 mA, and 12 s in the standard program mode. The X-ray spectrum was applied in the same manner as the panoramic dose by using the SpekCalc Software. The results indicated a mass attenuation coefficient of $0.008226cm^2/g$, and an effective energy of 34 keV. The equivalent dose between the RPL and the OSL was calculated based on a product of the absorbed doses. The density of the aluminum attenuators was $2.699g/cm^3$. During the panoramic examination, tissue absorption doses with regard to the RPL were a surface dose of $75.33{\mu}Gy$ and a depth dose of $71.77{\mu}Gy$, those with regard to the OSL were surface dose of $9.2{\mu}Gy$ a depth dose of $70.39{\mu}Gy$ and a mean dose of $74.79{\mu}Gy$. The effective dose based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 103 tissue weighting factor for the RPL were $0.742{\mu}Sv$, $8.9{\mu}Sv$, $2.96{\mu}Sv$ and those for the OSL were $0.754{\mu}Sv$, $9.05{\mu}Sv$, and $3.018{\mu}Sv$ in the parotid and sublingual glands, orbit, and thyroid gland, respectively. The RPL was more effective than the OSL for measuring the absorbed radiation dose in low-energy systems with a rotational X-ray tube.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2022

Background: Verbenalin is an iridoid glucoside, which is among the active components of some medicinal herbs such as Verbena officinalis Linn, and Cornus officinalis Siebold and Zucc. Previous studies have confirmed the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective potential of verbenalin. To confirm the safety of verbenalin, an approximate lethal dose was determined based on a single oral dose toxicity study. Methods: Institute of Cancer Research mice were randomly assigned to three verbenalin exposure groups (250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg) and a control group (5% methylcellulose solution). There were (5 male and 5 female mice per group). Mortality, clinical signs, and body weight were monitored for 14 days, and necropsies were conducted. Results: No mortalities were observed in the control group or the verbenalin 250 mg/kg group, whereas mortalities were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups. During the observation period, stool abnormalities such as mucous stools were observed. Clinical signs such as loss of locomotor activity were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups. During the study period, significant changes in body weight were observed in the 500 mg/kg and 1,000 mg/kg verbenalin groups; however, no gross abnormalities were observed at necropsy. Overall, no toxicity was found in the 250 mg/kg group. Conclusion: The approximate lethal dose of verbenalin was estimated to be 500 mg/kg. For a more accurate assessment of the safety of verbenalin, other types of studies such as repeated-dose toxicity studies should also be conducted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.219-223
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of Takju lees extract on blood glucose levels in the db/db mice (a murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus). We fed 40 male db/db mice a control diet (G0, AIN93G) and experimental diets containing 1% (G1), 2% (G2), or 4% (G4) Takju lees extract for 4 weeks. We found no difference in food intake and body weight gain among the animal groups. In the G1 and G2 groups, plasma glucose levels decreased significantly between Days 10 and 21 compared with the G0 group. However, we found no difference in plasma glucose levels between groups G4 and G0. The change in insulin concentrations was not significant among these animal groups, and we found no significant difference in glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in the soleus muscle. These results suggest that the Takju lees extract has a beneficial effect in animals with type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.285-297
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• 2023

This study was conducted to explore the career competencies among the middle-aged employment vulnerable groups and to provide the basis for systematic career development and human resource development for the middle-aged and employment vulnerable groups. Interviews and expert advice for the middle-aged (40-64 years old) employment vulnerable groups were conducted. The main research results as follows. First, middle-aged employment vulnerable groups have different career requirements depending on their characteristics. Second, the career competencies of the middle-aged employment vulnerable group were composed five factors and 21 sub-detailed competencies including career cognitive competencies, career skill competencies, career attitude competencies, career transition competencies, and career resource management competencies. Third, as a result of the priority analysis of Borich and Locus for Focus, career goal setting, career implementation competency, employment and start-up information, job search skills were the top priorities, career identity, digital literacy, job market knowledge, and infrastructure utilization were the second priority.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.340-352
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Colonic volvulus (CV), a common cause of bowel obstruction, often requires intervention. We aimed to identify hospitalization trends and CV outcomes in the United States. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample to identify all adult CV hospitalizations in the United States from 2007 to 2017. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and inpatient outcomes were highlighted. Outcomes of endoscopic and surgical management were compared. Results: From 2007 to 2017, there were 220,666 CV hospitalizations. CV-related hospitalizations increased from 17,888 in 2007 to 21,715 in 2017 (p<0.001). However, inpatient mortality decreased from 7.6% in 2007 to 6.2% in 2017 (p<0.001). Of all CV-related hospitalizations, 13,745 underwent endoscopic intervention, and 77,157 underwent surgery. Although the endoscopic cohort had patients with a higher Charlson comorbidity index, we noted lower inpatient mortality (6.1% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001), mean length of stay (8.3 vs. 11.8 days, p<0.001), and mean total healthcare charge ($68,126 vs. $106,703, p<0.001) compared to the surgical cohort. Male sex, increased Charlson comorbidity index scores, acute kidney injury, and malnutrition were associated with higher odds of inpatient mortality in patients with CV who underwent endoscopic management. Conclusions: Endoscopic intervention has lower inpatient mortality and is an excellent alternative to surgery for appropriately selected CV hospitalizations.