• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2013

Purpose: Spirituality is an important domain and is related with physical and psychological symptoms in terminal cancer patient. The aim of this study is to examine how patients' spirituality is associated with their physical and psychological symptoms as it has been explored by few studies. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 50 patients in the palliative ward of a tertiary hospital were interviewed. Spiritual well-being, depression, anxiety and pain is measured by Functional Assessment of Chronic-Illness Therapy-Spirituality (FACIT-Sp), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the Korean version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-K). The correlations between patients' spiritual well-being and anxiety, depression and pain were analysed. The association between spiritual well-being and age, gender, palliative performance scale (PPS), religion, mean pain intensity, anxiety, depression were assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: Spiritual well-being was negatively correlated with the mean pain intensity (r=-0.283, P<0.05), anxiety (r=-0.613, P<0.05) and depression (r=-0.526, P<0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, spiritual well-being showed negative association with anxiety (OR=-1.03, 95% CI=-1.657~-0.403, P=0.002) and positive association with the existence of religion (OR=9.193, 95% CI=4.158~14.229, P<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, patients' anxiety and existence of religion were significantly associated with spiritual well-being after adjusting age, gender, PPS, mean pain intensity, depression. Prospective studies are warranted.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.768-775
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• 2012

Alginate, obtained from the seaweeds, is a widely used biomaterial for cell transplantation, since its positive effect on viability of capsulized cells and its easier encapsulation capability of living cells. Demineralized bone powder (DBP), derived from the natural bone tissue, is widely applied for clinical trials for its low rate of reaction and antigenicity. A chondrocyte was seeded into an alginate with DBP of different contents, and a microcapsule was produced. The adhesion and proliferation of cells was observed through the MTT analysis, and the PCR was applied to estimate the content of the glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and collagen, and confirm the specific genetic pattern of the chondrocytes. Also, the alginate microcapsule where the chondrocyte is seeded was extracted after transplantation under the skin of a nude mouse, and was immunochemically stained. The experimental result confirmed that the alginate microcapsule containing 1% of DBP not only showed the highest proliferation of cell but had a positive effect of chondrocytes by the interaction between the alginates and the growth factor in DBP. It can be expected that the microcapsule with application of the alginates and DBP might be an appropriate scaffold for tissue engineering.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.9-17
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• 2017

Purpose: The tissue description and electron density indicated by the Computed Tomography(CT) number (also known as Hounsfield Unit) in radiotherapy are important in ensuring the accuracy of CT-based computerized radiotherapy planning. The internal metal implants, however, not only reduce the accuracy of CT number but also introduce uncertainty into tissue description, leading to development of many clinical algorithms for reducing metal artifacts. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the accuracy and the clinical applicability by analyzing date from SMART MAR (GE) used in our institution. Methode: and material: For assessment of images, the original images were obtained after forming ROIs with identical volumes by using CIRS ED phantom and inserting rods of six tissues and then non-SMART MAR and SMART MAR images were obtained and compared in terms of CT number and SD value. For determination of the difference in dose by the changes in CT number due to metal artifacts, the original images were obtained by forming PTV at two sites of CIRS ED phantom CT images with Computerized Treatment Planning (CTP system), the identical treatment plans were established for non-SMART MAR and SMART MAR images by obtaining unilateral and bilateral titanium insertion images, and mean doses, Homogeneity Index(HI), and Conformity Index(CI) for both PTVs were compared. The absorbed doses at both sites were measured by calculating the dose conversion constant (cCy/nC) from ylinder acrylic phantom, 0.125cc ionchamber, and electrometer and obtaining non-SMART MAR and SMART MAR images from images resulting from insertions of unilateral and bilateral titanium rods, and compared with point doses from CTP. Result: The results of image assessment showed that the CT number of SMART MAR images compared to those of non-SMART MAR images were more close to those of original images, and the SD decreased more in SMART compared to non-SMART ones. The results of dose determinations showed that the mean doses, HI and CI of non-SMART MAR images compared to those of SMART MAR images were more close to those of original images, however the differences did not reach statistical significance. The results of absorbed dose measurement showed that the difference between actual absorbed dose and point dose on CTP in absorbed dose were 2.69 and 3.63 % in non-SMRT MAR images, however decreased to 0.56 and 0.68 %, respectively in SMART MAR images. Conclusion: The application of SMART MAR in CT images from patients with metal implants improved quality of images, being demonstrated by improvement in accuracy of CT number and decrease in SD, therefore it is considered that this method is useful in dose calculation and forming contour between tumor and normal tissues.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.937-944
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of fiber derived from agar on the lipid and glucose metabolism of obese model mice, changes in the fat accumulation, lipid content, and insulin concentration were measured in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with a beverage containing agar (BCA) for 9 weeks. The feed efficiency ratio was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCA treatment group, although the body weight and food intake were maintained a constant level. Also, the fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver were lower in the HFD+BCA treatment group than in the HFD+Vehicle treatment group. Furthermore, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL after the BCA treatment, while a constant HDL level was maintained in the same group. Moreover, the serum insulin concentration was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCALo (Low concentration) and HFD+BCAMi (Middle concentration) groups compared to the HFD+Vehicle group. Therefore, the results suggest that the long-term administration of dietary fiber from agar can improve fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver, the serum lipid profile, and the insulin concentration in the blood. Also, the results provide evidence that the inclusion of agar fiber in beverages results in significant hypolipidemic and hypoinsulinemic effects.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.170-180
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate pesticide residues in 2,877 market vegetables in the northern area of Seoul in 2013. Pesticide residues in the samples were analysed by multiresidue method for 285 pesticides using GC-ECD/NPD and HPLC-DAD/FLD. 385 samples(13.4%) were detected with pesticide residues at or below MRL, and 15 samples(0.5%) were found to detect pesticide residues exceeding MRL. The most frequently detected samples were sedum(63.6%), chamnamul(45.8%), leek(44.5%) and green&red pepper(30.8%). Among the 15 violated samples, leek(5 cases) and welsh onion(4 cases) showed the highest violation rate. A total of 74 samples(18.5%) contained multiple pesticide residues in one vegetable. Procymidone, chlorofenapyr and cypermethrin were the pesticide most frequently found. As a tool of risk assessment through the consumption of pesticide detectable agricultural products, the ratio of estimated daily intake (EDI) to acceptable daily intake (ADI) was calculated into the range of 1.05~28.61%. The results have meant that there was no health risk through dieting commercial agricultural products detected with pesticide residues.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare plans prescribed to point A with these prescribed to point H recommended by ABS (American Brachytherapy Society) in high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This study selected 103 patients who received HDR (High Dose Rate) brachytherapy using tandem and ovoids from March 2010 to January 2012. Point A, bladder point, and rectal point conform with Manchester System. Point H conforms with ABS recommendation. Also Sigmoid colon point, and vagina point were established arbitrarily. We examined distance between point A and point H. The percent dose at point A was calculated when 100% dose was prescribed to point H. Additionally, the percent dose at each reference points when dose is prescribed to point H and point A were calculated. Results: The relative dose at point A was lower when point H was located inferior to point A. The relative doses at bladder, rectal, sigmoid colon, and vagina points were higher when point H was located superior to point A, and lower when point H was located inferior to point A. Conclusion: This study found out that as point H got located much superior to point A, the absorbed dose of surrounding normal organs became higher, and as point H got located much inferior to point A, the absorbed dose of surrounding normal organs became lower. This differences dose not seem to affect the treatment. However, we suggest this new point is worth being considered for the treatment of HDR if dose distribution and absorbed dose at normal organs have large differences between prescribed to point A and H.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

The consumption of herbal medicines has been increasing with growing interest in health. However, due to recent climate change and the complex distribution process of herbal medicines with high import dependence the likelihood of contamination with mycotoxin has been increased. Mycotoxins are emerging as key indicators for ensuring safety of herbal medicines. A total of 498 herbal medicine samples were screened for mycotoxin contamination in this study. Aflatoxin in the herbal medicine samples was extracted by using immunoaffinity column, then the extracted aflatoxin was quantified via high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method. The extraction method was verified by linearity, recovery, LOD and LOQ. Aflatoxins were detected in 39/498 samples in an average of $7.670{\mu}g/kg$ ($0.610-77.452{\mu}g/kg$ range). Although safety standards for Corydalis Tuber is not currently available in korea, five of the 39 samples had high concentration of aflatoxins (average of $14.9{\pm}4.1{\mu}g/kg$). In conclusion, it is urgent to establish safety criteria of aflatoxin in Corydalis Tuber. The results of the current study suggest that continuous monitoring is necessary for proactive management of herbal medicine safety.

• Journal of the Korean Professional Engineers Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.54-75
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• 1995

This synthesis has been prepared from a review of literature on Truck Escape Ramps technology and a survey of current practice by state department of transportation. Their locations have been determined usually from a combination of accident experience and en-gineering judgement, but new tools are emerging that can identify needs and sites without waiting for catastrophic accidents to happen. The Grade Severity Rating Systems holds promise in this regard. Design Procedures for truck excape ramps continue to evolve. Gravel arrester beds are clearly the preferred choice across the country Rounded aggregate, uniformly graded in the approximate size range of 13 to 18mm. Tech-nical publications typically have dassified TER types as paved gravity, sandpile, and ar-rester bed ramps. The design speed for vehicle entry into the ramp in critical to the deter-mination of ramp length. An escape ramp should be designed for a minimum entry speed of 130km/hr, a 145km/hr design being preferred. The ramps should be straight and their angle to the roadway align-ment should be as possible. The grade of truck escape ramps show the adjustment of ramp design to local topography, such as the tradeoff of ramp length against earthwork requirements. A width of 9 to 12m would more safety acommodate two or more outof con-trol vehicles. Reguarding comments on the most effective material, most respondents cited their own specification or referred to single graded, rounded pea gravel. The consensus essentially Is that single graded, well -rounded gravel is the most desirable material for use in arrester beds. The arrester beds should be constructed with a minimum aggregate depth of 30cm. Successful ramps have used depths between 30 and 90cm.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2016

This study investigated the quality characteristics of factory-style ssamjang (FSS) and commercial handmade-style ssamjang (HSS) products. Moisture, crude protein, and crude fat contents were significantly higher in the HSS groups (49.37~62.12%, 9.39~13.46%, and 4.40~8.35%) than the FSS groups (41.94~45.83%, 7.50~9.09%, and 1.81~3.36%). Salt content was higher in the HSS groups (6.33~11.18%) than the FSS groups (6.10~7.57%). Moreover, the average salt content (7.51%) of the HSS groups and the FSS groups was lower than that of commercial ssamjang (8.73%). Hunter's color value was also significantly higher in the FSS groups. However, free sugar, organic acid, and free amino acids contents varied greatly between the FSS groups and the HSS groups, which was likely due to the different manufacturing method, ripening degree of doenjang and the main material used for ssamjang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.928-934
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• 2011

Nutritional compositions of acorn crude starch were analyzed according to country of origin, especially the mineral and sugar contents. Regarding the three kinds of starch of domestic (South Korea, KAS), Chinese (CAS), and North Korea (NAS) origins in the Korean market, NAS had the lowest moisture content as well as the highest contents of crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate. Regarding mineral contents, NAS contained the highest amounts of magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous, whereas CAS contained the highest iron and zinc contents. There were no significant differences in acidity and pH. Analysis of the monosaccharide contents of the starches showed that glucose was the highest in KAS while sucrose was the highest in CAS. The Hunter color L value was the lowest in NAS, whereas a and b values were the lowest in CAS. Total phenolic content was the highest in NAS. NAS had the highest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities ($IC_{50}$: 47.0 mg/mL for DPPH, 0.038 mg/mL for hydroxyl) whereas KAS had similar DPPH ($IC_{50}$: 73.7 mg/mL for CAS, 86.8 mg/mL for KAS) and hydroxyl radical activities ($IC_{50}$: 0.041 mg/mL for CAS, 0.044 mg/mL for KAS) as compared to CAS.