• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.699-707
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• 2013

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Cheonggukjang powder made using black foods on liver function and lipid composition in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The experimental animals were divided into 5 groups and fed the following for 7 weeks; normal diet(control), STZ+normal diet(Diabetic), STZ+50% soybean Cheonggukjang supplementation(DSC), STZ+44.5% yakkong Cheonggukjang supplementation(DYC), and STZ+supplementation with 50% yakkong black food(black rice, black sesame seeds, and sea tangle) Cheonggukjang(DYCB). The results showed that the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the STZ-induced diabetic groups were significantly lower than those of the control group. In the Diabetic group, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) activities and total bilirubin content in serum were significantly greater than those in the control group. However, supplementation with Cheonggukjang reduced these values. In the Diabetic group, the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol contents in the serum and liver tissue, as well as the atherogenic index(AI) and cardiac risk factors(CRF) were significantly higher than the corresponding values in the control group, although the high-density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol and phospholipid contents were significantly lower than those in the control group. However, supplementation with Cheonggukjang normalized the changed lipid composition in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Further, yakkong Cheonggukjang and black food contaning yakkong Cheonggukjang normalized AI and CRF.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.651-659
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• 2020

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death across the world, and gold-standard treatments such as percutaneous coronary intervention and artery bypass grafting have various limitations including myocardial damage and subsequent maladaptive cardiac remodeling. To overcome this, stem-cell therapies are emerging as a promising strategy for cardiovascular regeneration. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have high potential to proliferate and differentiate into endothelial cells for vascularization and tissue regeneration, and several clinical trials have explored EPC function in tissue repair in relation to clinical safety and improving cardiac function. Consequently, EPC has been suggested as a feasible stem-cell therapy. However, autologous EPC transplantation in cardiovascular disease patients is restricted by risk factors such as age, smoking status, and hypertension that lead to reduced bioactivity in the EPCs. New approaches for improving EPC function and stem-cell efficacy have therefore been suggested, including cell priming, organoid culture systems, and enhancing transplantation efficiency through 3D bioprinting methods. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of EPC characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and the current state of clinical research into EPCs as stem-cell therapy for cardiovascular disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.118-124
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• 2020

Background: The poultry industry in Pakistan has flourished since the 1960s; however, there are scarce data regarding the impact of occupational exposure on the pulmonary health of farm workers in terms of years working in the industry. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of poultry environment on the health of occupationally exposed poultry farmers in countries of warm climatic regions, such as Pakistan. This study will also show the effect of exposure to poultry facilities on the health of poultry farmers in the context of low-income countries with a relatively inadequate occupational exposure risk management. Materials and methods: The lung function capacity of 79 poultry workers was measured using a spirometer. Along with spirometry, a structured questionnaire was also administrated to obtain information about age, height, weight, smokers/nonsmokers, years of working experience, and pulmonary health of farm workers. The workers who were directly involved in the care and handling of birds in these intensive facilities were considered and divided into four groups based on their years of working experience: Group I (3-10 months), Group II (1-5 years), Group III (6-10 years), and Group IV (more than 11 years). The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio were considered to identify lung function abnormalities. Statistical analysis was carried out using independent sample t test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression. Results: Based on the performed spirometry, 68 (86 %) of workers were found normal and healthy, whereas 11 (14 %) had a mild obstruction. Of the 11 workers with mild obstruction, the highest number with respect to the total was in Group IV (more than 11 years of working experience) followed by Group III and Group II. Most of the workers were found healthy, which seems to be because of the healthy survivor effect. For the independent sample t test, a significant difference was noticed between healthy and nonhealthy farmers, whereas Chi-square test showed a significant association with height, drugs, and working experience. Linear regression that was stratified by respiratory symptoms showed for workers with symptoms, regression models for all spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC) have better predictive power or R square value than those of workers without symptoms. Conclusion: These findings suggest that lung function capacity was directly related to years of working experience. With increasing number of working years, symptoms of various respiratory problems enhanced in the poultry workers. It should be noted that most of the poultry workers were healthy and young, the rationale being that there is a high turnover rate in this profession. The mobility in this job and our finding of 86% of the healthy workers in the present study also proposed healthy worker survivor effect.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop an earth leakage alarm circuit breaker, equipped with a leakage alarming function (JER-E2S, ETECKOREA Co., Korea), and to analyze its characteristics. The developed mechanism is exclusively used for single-phase and 220 V circuits, with a rated current of 32 A, 20 A, 20 A (for restrooms), 16 A, etc. It satisfies all characteristics of existing earth leakage circuit breakers (ELB). If a fire current, which is a resistive leakage current (Igr), flows through an electric line, the device detects the leakage current in real time and warns against the leakage through a blinking LED lamp. Since the developed device displays a tolerance to a capacitative leakage current (Igc) that inevitably occurs in LED lamps, communication devices, etc., it ensures a stable power supply. In addition, the earth leakage alarm circuit breaker protects against power failure due to a momentary ground fault. Therefore, it can supply power without the risk of the circuit breaker malfunctioning due to a momentary ground fault caused by water droplets, leaves, etc. Moreover, with a standby power of less than 0.1 W, the developed earth leakage alarm circuit breaker exhibits a power saving performance that is 3~8 times greater than that of other ELBs. Installation of approximately 10 earth leakage alarm circuit breakers in one apartment household, with an area of 120 ㎡, can save 2~5 kWh per month. Therefore, the developed earth leakage alarm breaker not only satisfies the characteristics of existing earth leakage breakers, but also exhibits outstanding power supply quality since it has the functions of electric fire prevention and malfunction prevention. Therefore, this device can innovatively contribute to electric fire prevention.

• Review of Culture and Economy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-171
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• 2017

This paper presents empirical findings about the market inefficiency field in the korean horse track. We first use the place betting data instead of the win betting data inevitably depended on by past studies, and discuss the degree of the long shot anomaly and the bettor's risk attitude sequentially in the place betting market. The empirical result of betting simulations using the place winning function in this study reveals persistently higher returns than the expected payoff in korean racetrack betting market. The clear departures from perfect efficiency in horse-racing betting imply that much of the market information is insufficient and less accurate. This market asymmetry aggravates popular speculations exquisitely since people are attracted by the higher odds figures in the racetrack display although those are much uncertain in future. The findings suggest the more objective and credible information of winning possibilities such as the place winning function including the smart information of marginal odds needs to be available to the betting decision of the public, which contributes to reducing the speculative spirit in korean racetrack.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.203-208
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between pulmonary function, serum lipid and pulse pressure, which is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, in subjects with 109 office workers(51 males and 58 females) be at Seoul, Korea. The mean age of the subjects was $43.44{\pm}7.23$ years old (male $43.44{\pm}7.27$, fenale $49.1{\pm}11.5$). The subjects' height, weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured and there was statistical difference between men and women.The mean pulse pressure of the subjects was $47.82{\pm}9.02mmHg$, and the mean of FVC was $84.26{\pm}9.91%$. There was no difference between men and women in both. There was a positive correlation between pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure in males (p<0.01) and females (p<0.01), and FVC and HDL in males were positively correlated (p<0.05). Pulse pressure and %FVC were negatively correlated (r =-0.267, P<0.01). Pulse pressure and %FVC were negatively correlated (r =-0.267, P<0.01). Regression analysis showed that PP was the independent affected %FVC. Therefore, pulse pressure and %FVC may be useful as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged subjects with normal, suggest a long-term convergence follow-up is warranted to elucidate the incidence of cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.36-44
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• 2019

Swallowing impairment is a frequent complication following stroke. The characteristics of swallowing impairment with stork patient can facilitate identification of individuals at risk of dysphagia would be of great helpful. The present study examined oropharyngeal swallowing impairment with subacute stroke patients using the Modified Barium Swallowing Impairment Profile(MBSImP). The 49 consecutive patients with the supratentorial stroke met inclusion criteria for the present study. A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent the videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS). Of Stroke patients, 95.9% exhibited abnormal function of lip closure. 98% and 57.1 % shown abnormal tongue function and lingual motion, respectively. Oral residue was present in 51% and delayed pharyngeal response was present in 89.9%. In addition, abnormal laryngeal and hyoid excursion was seen in 42.9% and 87.8%, respectively. Abnormal function of soft palate elevation was present in 18.4% and abnormal epiglottic movement was seen in 4.1%. 30.6% of 30.6% of these patients exhibited abnormal laryngeal closure. All of the stroke patients(100%) in this study exhibited abnormal pharyngeal stripping wave and pharyngoesophageal segment opening. Abnormal tongue base retraction and oral reside were present 91.8%, respectively. The results suggest that stroke patient is more likely to exhibit reduced swallowing functions including lip closure, tongue control, initiation of pharyngeal swallow, anterior hyoid motion, tongue base retraction, pharyngeal residue and pharyngoesophageal contraction. Therefore, these data could provide valid and precise information regarding physiological evidence to delineate symptoms of dysphagia in this stroke cohort. Future studies should explore the bolus effect in the swallowing impairment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2019

A microscope is the fundamental research and diagnostic apparatus for clinical investigation of signaling transduction, morphological changes and physiological tracking of cells and intact tissues from patients in the biomedical laboratory science. Proper use, care and maintenance of microscope with comprehensive understanding in mechanism are fully requested for reliable image data and accurate interpretation for diagnosis in the clinical laboratory. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for light microscopes includes performance procedure, brief information of all mechanical parts of microscopes with systematic troubleshooting mechanism depending on the laboratory capacity. Maintenance program encompasses cleaning objective, ocular lenses and inner optics; replacement and calibration of light source; XY sample stage management; point spread function (PSF) measurement for confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM); quality control (QC) program in fluorescent microscopy; and systematic troubleshooting. Laser safety is one of the concern for medical technologists engaged in CLSM laboratory. Laser safety guideline based on the laser classification and risk level, and advisory lab wear for CLSM users are also expatiated in this overview. Since acquired image data presents a wide range of information at the moment of acquisition, well-maintained microscopes with proper microscopic maintenance program are impulsive for its interpretation and diagnosis in the clinical laboratory.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.520-530
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the effects of music therapy on cognitive function, agitation, anxiety and depression in the elderly with dementia. Method: A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google scholar and PsycINFO, for the period 2010 to 2019. In the meta-analysis, the standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) and 95% confidence interval were calculated as summary measure, and the random effect model and inverse variance method were applied using the RevMan 5.4 program. A total of 13 studies were included; all were determined to be acceptable, based on the Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Results: The effect size (Hedges' g) was 0.31 (95% CI: -0.02, 0.65) for cognition and -0.03 (95% CI: -0.17, 0.11) for agitation behavior as the primary outcomes, and 0.61 (95% CI: -1.17, -0.05) for anxiety and -0.44(95% CI: -0.88, 0.00) for depression as the secondary outcomes. Subgroup analysis by type of music intervention revealed that combined music therapy has a significantly increasing beneficial effect on cognition of dementia patients (g=0.45[95% CI: 0.03, 0.87]). Conclusion: Music therapy was determined to exert beneficial effects in reducing anxiety and depression, and combined music therapy demonstrated improved cognitive functions in elderly patients with dementia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2022

Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether the concurrent use of conventional and herbal medications affects liver and kidney function, by examining blood test data. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 590 inpatients with musculoskeletal diseases between 2013 and 2017. We investigated cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) according to the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method criteria and cases of drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definition. Results One case (0.17%) of DILI and one case (0.17%) of DIKI were identified. Significant improvements in serum laboratory data were observed after the concurrent use of both types of medications (p<0.05). The kappa coefficients ranged from 0.26 to 0.72, indicating that the values after the concurrent use of conventional and herbal medications showed a fair similarity to the baseline values of the patients. The linear regression test showed that female sex and high body mass index (BMI) were risk factors for an increase in the serum blood levels of liver function parameters. Conclusions The concurrent use of conventional and herbal medications for musculoskeletal disorders is relatively safe; however, clinicians should exercise caution when prescribing these medications to female patients and patients with a high BMI because of their potential effect on hepatic function.