• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.47
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• pp.292.1-292.10
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• 2018

Background: We investigated the incidence of active tuberculosis among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, with or without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Methods: The study was performed at a Korean tertiary referral center between January 2011 and June 2017. In total, 740 patients with IBD who underwent LTBI screening tests and were followed-up for ${\geq}1$ year after TNF inhibitor treatment initiation were enrolled. LTBI was detected on the basis of tuberculin skin test results, interferon-gamma release assay results, chest X-ray findings, and previous tuberculosis treatment history. The patients were classified into LTBI (n = 84) or non-LTBI (n = 656) group. The risk of developing tuberculosis in each group was assessed on the basis of standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for active tuberculosis. Results: Mean patient age was 33.1 years, and patients with Crohn's disease were predominant (80.7%). Within 1 year after the initiation of TNF inhibitor treatment, 1 patient in the LTBI group (1/84; 1.2%) and 7 patients in the non-LTBI group (7/656; 1.1%) developed active tuberculosis. The overall 1-year incidence of tuberculosis among the patients was significantly higher than that among the general population (SIR, 14.0; 95% CI, 7.0-28.0), and SIR was not affected by LTBI status (LTBI group: 14.5, 95% CI, 2.0-102.6; non-LTBI group: 14.0, 95% CI, 6.7-29.4). Conclusion: Patients with IBD undergoing TNF inhibitor treatment showed a higher 1-year incidence of tuberculosis than the general population irrespective of LTBI status.

• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2012

Background: Since Jan. 2012, for performance evaluation of viral reagents, analysis of domestic samples has been recommended in order to obtain approval from the KFDA when they are first introduced to Korea. This regulation requires the standard domestic materials driven from locally infected samples. We tried manufacturing the plasma working standards of HBV, HCV, and HIV NAT using a mixed titer of viral loads. Methods: Forty three HBV DNA positive plasmas, 25 HCV RNA positive plasmas, and 26 HIV RNA positive plasmas were evaluated according to viral load and genotype. Several plasma units, which had high-titer viral loads and the common viral genotypes in Korea, were selected as the source materials for each viral standard. To adjust the appropriate concentration based on the detectable range of variable viral reagents, the source plasma was diluted to several concentrations, divided into small vials, and analyzed for quantification. Results: The 13 plasma working standards, which had variable viral loads for the mixed titer performance panel of HIV, HCV, and HBV NAT, were produced. Conclusion: These national standard materials were first produced in order to supply the mixed titer performance panel for the viral NAT reagent of the level IV transfusion related high-risk group in Korea.

• 재활복지
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.43-58
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• 2018

Swallowing disorders that can affect nutrient intakes and quality of life are commonly shown among the elderly as well as patients with neurogenic disorder. This study verifies the reliability and validity of the Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ), a subjective swallowing disability assessment tool, modified for Koreans' eating habit and cultural sentiment, against 105 stroke patients, in order to help identify early swallowing problems of the elderly. Reliability of internal consistency in the Korean version of SDQ is .601, test-retest reliability is .97, and concurrent validity is .956. Based on 8 points of cut-off score, 46.8% of sensitivity and 81.6% of specificity. Comparing the results of video fluoroscopic study (VFSS), an objective swallowing disorder test with those of Korean version of SDQ, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) was shown as 81% and 53%. The Korean version of SDQ is expected to be a useful testing tool to discriminate swallowing disorders in stroke patients. It has great clinical significance in that swallowing difficulties shown by subjects can be sorted out to request a diagnostic assessment before clinical evaluation by a rehabilitation therapist or ruling out unnecessary exposure to additional tests by accurately identifying stroke patients without swallowing problems.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2015

Ginsenosides (ginseng saponin) as the one of important pharmaceutical compounds of ginseng and is responsible for the pharmacological and biological activities. These ginsenoside produces diverse small molecules ginsenoside which have more pharmacological activities including anti-wrinkle, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects. In the present study, we isolated bacteria using esculin agar, to produce ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and we focused on the bio-transformation of ginsenoside. Phylogenetic tree analysis was performed by comparing the 16S rRNA sequences; we identified the strain as Stenotrophomonas rhizopilae strain GFC09. In order to determine the optimal conditions for enzyme activity, the crude enzyme was incubated with 1 mM ginsenoside $Rb_1$. Bioconversion of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ were analyzed using TLC and HPLC. The crude enzyme hydrolyzed the ginsenoside $Rb_1$ along the following pathway: LB: $Rb_1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F_2$ into compound K, TSB: $Rb_1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F_2$. The structure of the hydrolyzed metabolites were identified by NMR. The activity screening tests showed that the conversion product induced the production of type I procollagen in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that hydrolyzed ginseng product containing the ginsenoside $F_2$ and compound K could be useful as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.662-669
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• 2010

To develop the manufacturing methods for the blanket first wall (FW) of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and to verify the integrity of the joint, Be/Cu mockups were fabricated and tested at the KoHLT-1 (Korea Heat Load Test facility), a graphite heater facility located at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Since Be and Cu joining is the focus of the present study, the fabricated mockups had a CuCrZr heat sink joined with three Be tiles as an armor material, unlike the original ITER blanket FW, which has a stainless steel structure and coolant tubes. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) was carried out at $580^{\circ}C$ and 100 MPa for 2 hours as the method for Be/Cu joining. Three interlayers, namely, $1{\mu}mCr/10{\mu}mCu$, $1{\mu}mTi/0.5{\mu}mCr/10{\mu}mCu$, and $5{\mu}mTi/10{\mu}mCu$ were applied as a coating to the Be tiles by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. A shear test was performed with the specimens, which were fabricated by the same methods as those used to fabricate the mockups. The average values were 125 MPa to 180 MPa, and the samples with the $1{\mu}mCr/10{\mu}mCu$ interlayer showed the lowest value. No defect or delamination was found in the joints of the mockups by the developed ultrasonic test using a flat-type probe with a 10 MHz frequency and a 0.25 inch diameter. High heat flux (HHF) tests were performed at $1.0\;MW/m^2$ heat flux for each mockup using the given conditions, and the results were analyzed by ANSYS-CFX code. For the test criteria, an expected fatigue lifetime about 1,000 cycles was obtained by analysis with ANSYS-mechanical code. Mockups using the interlayers of $1{\mu}mTi/0.5{\mu}mCr/10{\mu}mCu$ and $5{\mu}mTi/10{\mu}mCu$ survived up to 1,100 cycles over the required number of cycles. However, one of the Be tiles in the other two mockups using the $1{\mu}mCr/10{\mu}mCu$ interlayer was detached during the screening test, and others were detached by discharge after 862 cycles. The integrity of the joints using the proposed interlayers was proven by the HHF test, but the other interlayer requires more study before it can be used for the joining of Be to Cu. Moreover, it was confirmed that the measured temperatures agreed well with the analysis temperatures, which were used to estimate the lifetime and that the developed facility showed its capability of the long time operation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2019

Recently, the rapid growth of the companion animal market has led to the development of animal disease diagnosis kits. Therefore, the utility of the introduction of biomarkers for the development of animal molecular diagnostics is being reevaluated. A good biomarker should be precise and reliable, distinguish between normal and diseased states, and differentiate between different diseases. Recently reported genetic markers, tumor markers (cell free DNA, circulating tumor cells, granzyme, and skin tumors), and others (brucellosis, programmed death recovery-1, symmetric dimethylarginine, periostin, and cysteinyl leukotrien) have been developed. The biomarkers are used for risk prediction or for the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. The most important criteria for related biomarkers are disease specificity. Many potential biomarkers have emerged from laboratory and test studies, but they have not been validated in independent or large-scale clinical studies. Candidate biomarkers evaluate disease associations, verify the effectiveness of biomarkers for early detection and disease progression, and incorporate them into humans and animals. In the future, it will be necessary to reevaluate the utility of well-structured biomarker-based research and study the development of kits that can be used in on-site tests in accordance with the trends introduced in the diagnosis of animal diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.306-310
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• 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in immigrants. We aimed to investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment for North Korean Refugees (NKR) compared to South Koreans Contacts (SKC). Methods: TB close contacts in a closed facility of SKC and NKR who underwent LTBI screening in a settlement support center for NKR were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among tuberculin skin test (TST) ${\geq}10mm$ (n=298) reactors, the males accounted for 72.2% in SKC (n=126) and 19.5% in NKR (n=172) (p<0.01). The mean age was higher in South Korea ($42.8{\pm}9.9years$ vs. $35.4{\pm}10.0years$, p<0.01). Additionally, the mean TST size was significantly bigger in NKR ($17.39{\pm}3.9mm$ vs. $16.57{\pm}4.2mm$, p=0.03). The LTBI treatments were initiated for all screened NKR, and LTBI completion rate was only 68.0%. However, in NKR, LTBI treatment completion rate was significantly increased by shorter 4R regimen (odds ratio [OR], 9.296; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.159-20.774; p<0.01) and male (OR, 3.447; 95% CI, 1.191-9.974; p=0.02). Conclusion: LTBI treatment compliance must be improved in NKR with a shorter regimen. In addition, a larger study regarding a focus on LTBI with easy access to related data for NKR should be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2021

Objective : This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Update (K-RBANS). Methods : We performed a retrospective analysis of 283 psychiatric and neurosurgery patients. To investigate the convergent validity of the K-RBANS, correlation analyses were performed for other intelligence and neuropsychological test results. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a series of alternative plausible models of the K-RBANS. To analyze the various capabilities of the K-RBANS, we compared the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC). Results : Significant correlations were observed, confirming the convergent validity of the K-RBANS among the Total Scale Index (TSI) and indices of the K-RBANS and indices of intelligence (r=0.47-0.81; p<0.001) and other neuropsychological tests at moderate and above significance (r=0.41-0.63; p<0.001). Additionally, the results testing the construct validity of the K-RBANS showed that the second-order factor structure model (model 2, similar to an original factor structure of RBANS), which includes a first-order factor comprising five index scores (immediate memory, visuospatial capacity, language, attention, delayed memory) and one higher-order factor (TSI), was statistically acceptable. The comparative fit index (CFI) (CFI, 0.949) values and the goodness of fit index (GFI) (GFI, 0.942) values higher than 0.90 indicated an excellent fit. The root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) (RMSEA, 0.082) was considered an acceptable fit. Additionally, the factor structure of model 2 was found to be better and more valid than the other model in χ2 values (Δχ2=7.69, p<0.05). In the ROC analysis, the AUCs of the TSI and five indices were 0.716-0.837, and the AUC of TSI (AUC, 0.837; 95% confidence interval, 0.760-0.896) was higher than the AUCs of the other indices. The sensitivity and specificity of TSI were 77.66% and 78.12%, respectively. Conclusion : The overall results of this study suggest that the K-RBANS may be used as a valid tool for the brief screening of neuropsychological patients in Korea.

• (The) Korean Journal of Educational Psychology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.367-384
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to develop picture testing instrument for measuring children's causal reasoning ability on events that can occur in daily life. The measurement instrument contains three domain of human development; haman behavior domain, human psychology domain, and natural/physical domain. Through this study, researchers designed a concept model based on theoretical framework and prior studies and investigated the reliability and validity of the measurement instrument which was developed in accordance with the concept model. For the empirical validation research, a pretest was conducted to 336 elementary school students in grade 2 to 4 in Seoul. Considering reliability and validity of the developed measurement instrument and factor loadings, researchers sorted out 18 questions. And then 18 question test and KICE Critical Thinking Ability Test was conducted to 509 elementary school students in grade 1 to 4 in Seoul. According to the result of the tests, the researchers sorted out final 12 questions. The Cronbach's alpha, reliability of the children's causal reasoning ability test consisted of the final 12 question, was significant as .72. Also, the result of exploratory factor analysis showed that factors of this test were haman behavior domain, human psychology domain, and natural/physical domain. Moreover, the correlation between the KEDI Reasoning Ability Test(2003) scores and the scores of the test developed in the current study was significant as .55. Finally, the result of the analysis about children's grade differences, the development by discrepancy of age was significant in total points and that of each domain. The children's causal reasoning ability test developed by this study can be useful not only for the evaluation of children's thinking ability but also for screening of the handicapped children in thinking ability development.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.21.1-21.9
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• 2021

Background: Unani System of Medicine (USM) has its origin to Greece. To ensure and develop the quality, authenticity of Unani drugs, standardization on modern analytical parameter is essential requirement for drugs. Objectives: The aimed of the present study was to develop a standard profile of "Qurṣ-e-Mafasil" by systematic study through authenticated ingredients, pharmacognostic identification followed by physicochemical, TLC, HPTLC fingerprinting analysis as per standard protocol. Material and Methods: In this study three batches of "Qurṣ-e-Mafasil" QM were prepared by standard method as per UPI had been followed by organoleptic properties of formulation such as appearance, color, odor, taste. Powder Microscopy and physicochemical studies were carried out such as Uniformity of weight, Friability, Disintegration time, hardness, LOD, ash vales and extractive values in like aqueous, alcohol & hexane. Further qualitative tests such as Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) studies were also carried out to develop fingerprint pattern of the alcoholic solvent extract of QM. Phytochemical screening was carried out in different solvent extracts such as alcoholic, aqueous and chloroform extracts to detect the presence phytoconstituents in the formulation QM. Heavy metals, Microbial Load Contamination and pesticidal residues were also determined. Results: Qurṣ-e-Mafasil showed tablet-like appearance, light brown colour, mild pungent odour and acrid taste. Uniformity of weight (mg), friability (rpm), and hardness (kg/cm) and disintegration time was ranged between (500 to 503), (0.0340 to 0.038), (8.40 to 8.67) and (4-5 minutes) respectively for the three batches. Loss in weight on drying at 105℃ was ranged between (8.3425 to 8.7346). Extracted values were calculated in distilled water ranged between (30.9091 to 31.4358), hexane (1.1419 to 1.4281), and alcohol (3.3352 to 3.3962). The ash values recorded were ranged between (3.7336 to 3.8378), and acid insoluble ash (0.5859 to 0.6112).