• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2007

Leishmania (L.) tropica is a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, and occasionally of visceral or viscerotropic leishmaniasis in humans. Murine models of Leishmania infection have been proven to be useful for elucidation of mechanisms for pathogenesis and immunity in leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to establish a murine model for human viscerotropic leishmaniasis, and the growth pattern of L. tropica was studied in different tissues of BALB/c mice in order to find out whether the parasite visceralizes in this murine model. L. major was used as a control as this species is known to cause a progressive infection in BALB/c mice. L. tropica or L. major was injected into the footpad of mice, and thickness of footpad, parasite loads in different tissues, and the weight of the spleen and lymph node were determined at different intervals. Results showed that L. tropica visceralizes to the spleen and grows there while its growth is controlled in footpad tissues. Dissemination of L. tropica to visceral organs in BALB/c mice was similar to the growth patterns of this parasite in human viscerotropic leishmaniasis. The BALB/c model of L. tropica infection may be considered as a good experimental model for human diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2013

The Theory of Meridian can be classified into early form of pre- and present form of after-. The representative early form of meridian is Eleven Meridians in Mawangdui scrolls(馬王堆帛書) which use Six Qi Diagnosis(六氣辨證). because it did not adopt Visceral Pattern Identification(臟腑辨證). The present form of meridian is Twelve Meridians of . It has developed to investigate relations between Visceral and disease with Five Phase Theory. Analyzing the name of the Six Meridians in the Shanghanlun(傷寒論)On Cold Damage, there are no hands, feet and visceral signs. and it is almost identical to Eleven Meridians in Mawangdui scrolls. According to , Eleven Meridians use only Six Foot Meridians(足六經) to classify diseases. This fact was applied identically to the Six Meridians in the Shanghanlun. Therefore many doctors, especially Hanzhihe(韓祗和) and Zhangzhicong(張志聰) mentioned that "I have never seen a book on Shanghanlun discuss about Hand Meridians(手經)."

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.77-86
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• 2019

Objectives : By analyzing symptoms of tinnitus, we tried to find out the relationship between deficiency and excess(虛實) and visceral pattern identification(臟腑辨證). By testing Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI), we evaluated the quality of life of people suffering from various aspects of tinnitus, as well as comparing treatment efficiency. Methods : 52 patients were recruited in this study who was ill with tinnitus. They wrote out the questionnaire about tinnitus and the THI. Results : The vast majority of high-grade tiny noise patients are deficiency type(虛症). The vast majority of low-grade roar patients are excess type(實症). Tinnitus persistence and feeling of ear occlusion were prominent in low-grade roar patients. low-grade roar patients suggest that overall quality of life is lower than high-grade tiny noise patients. In terms of treatment efficiency, spleen-stomach weakness(脾胃虛弱)-type, stomach heat(胃熱)-type and phlegm-fire(痰火)-type was higher than kidney essence depletion(腎精虧損)-type and liver qi depression(肝氣鬱結)-type regardless of the aspect of tinnitus. Conclusions : The present study suggests that tinnitus pattern may be helpful in differentiating patients with tinnitus, and the effectiveness of treatment can be predicted through differentiation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2018

Background: Body fats, especially both of abdominal fat pad mass and skeletal muscle fat content, are inversely related to insulin action. Therefore, methods for decreasing visceral fat mass and muscle triglyceride content may be helpful for the prevention of insulin resistance. Methods: Thalidomide, used for its anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, was administered to rats for 4 weeks. A 10% solution of thalidomide in dimethyl sulfoxide was injected daily into the peritoneal cavity as much as 100 mg/kg of body weight. Results: The total visceral fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was 11% lower than in the control group. The size of adipocytes of the epididymal fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was smaller than in the control group. The intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment increased triglyceride concentrations by 16% in the red muscle, but not in the white muscle. Conclusion: The results suggested that intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment inhibited abdominal fat accumulation, and that the free fatty acids in the blood were preferentially accumulated in the red muscle rather than in the white muscle.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2009

Houttuynia Cordata Thunb, well known as "E-Sung Cho" in Korea, has been used for the treatment of herpes simplex, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. Recently, some studies reported the antileukemic activity, anticancer activity, adjuvanticity, and antioxidant action of Houttuynia Cordata Thunb. In the present study, the anti-obesity activity of Houttuynia Cordata Thunb was investigated. Middle-aged women were examined over a period of 8 weeks (n=30). Participants were divided into four group: Houttuynia Cordata Thunb Exercise (HCE, n=7), Placebo Exercise (PE, n=8), Houttuynia Cordata Thunb Non Exercise (HCNE, n=8), and Placebo Non Exercise (PNE, n=7). Participants in Houttuynia Cordata Thunb groups were received 4.5 g Houttuynia Cordata Thunb and in placebo groups were received same dose of placebo thrice daily with meals. The result after 8 weeks demonstrated that HCE significant decreased visceral fat than PNE. Our present study provides the evidence that Houttuynia Cordata Thunb intake and exercise performance may reduce visceral fat and further studies with larger numbers of subjects are warranted to conclusively demonstrate effectiveness.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 2012

Objectives : This study is to figure the relations of the heart rate variability, body component analysis and accompanying symptoms of 350 insomnia patients. Methods : For this study we evaluated Heart Rate Variability(HRV) and body component analysis on 350 insomnia patients who visited Dongeui oriental hospital of Dongeui university from January 2008 to March 2012. The accompanying symptoms was collected based on each patient's progress note. Results : 1. There was no difference between PR, LF and VLF of male and female groups. HF was higher in the patients' of female group and LF/HF ratio was higher in the male group. The patients' group of age under 39 had higher HF, LF, VLF and LF/HF ratio than the group over 39. 2. The average of LF was the smallest, and the average of VLF was in the middle, while the average of HF was the largest. 3. Regarding patients' age and gender, as the patients' age increased, their HF, LF, VLF and LF/HF ratio decreased significantly. HF, LF, VLF, and LF/HF ratios were, however, independent on the patients' gender. As the patients' age increased, their BMI increased, while the patients' gender did not affect on their BMI. The amount of visceral fat increased with the patients' age, but wasn't dependent on the patients' gender. 4. As the patients' BMI increased, PR and LF decreased. As the patients' amount of visceral fat increased, PR, HF, LF and VLF decreased. 5. The most frequent accompanying symptoms of the insomnia patients was headache. Neither HF nor LF/HF ratio was dependant on any of the accompanying symptoms. Patients with anxiety showed significantly higher LF than those without anxiety. Patients with fatigue and physical pain showed significantly higher VLF than those without either of them. Conclusions : The study showed that as the insomnia patients age increased, the HF, LF, VLF, LF/HF ratio significantly decreased, but the BMI and visceral fat increased. The HF, LF, VLF, LF/HF ratio BMI, or the visceral fat was independent on the gender. As BMI increased, PR and LF decreased. As visceral fat increased, PR HF, LF and VLF decreased. Patients presenting anxiety had higher LF. Patients either with fatigue or physical pain had higher VLF. Neither HF nor LF/HF ratio had any significant correlation with any of the accompanying symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.614-622
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• 2020

Objective : The method of approach during transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) has been the subject of repeated study. However, the ideal entry point during TELD has not been studied in detail. Therefore, this study investigated the ideal entry point for avoiding complications using computed tomography (CT) scans obtained from patients in the prone position. Methods : Using CT scans obtained from patients in the prone position, we checked for retroperitoneal or visceral violations and measured the angles of approach with five conventional approach lines drawn on axial CT scans at each disc space level (L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5). We also determined the ideal entry point distance and approach angles for avoiding retroperitoneal or visceral violations. Correlation analysis was performed to identify the patient characteristics related to the ideal entry point properties. Results : We found that the far lateral approach at the L2-3 level resulted in high rates of visceral violation. However, rates of visceral violation at the L3-4 and L4-5 levels were remarkably low or absent. The ideal angles of approach decreased moving caudally along the spine, and the ideal entry point distances increased moving caudally along the spine. Weight, body mass index (BMI), and the depth of the posterior vertebral line from the skin were positively associated with the distance of the ideal entry point from the midline. Conclusion : We reviewed the risk of the extreme lateral approach by analyzing rates of retroperitoneal and visceral violations during well-known methods of approach. We suggested an ideal entry point at each level of the lumbar spine and found a positive correlation between the distance of the entry point to the midline and patient characteristics such as BMI, weight, and the depth of the posterior vertebral line from the skin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.685-693
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• 2020

This study was performed to compare the differences between total fat area, subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area according to L1-S1 inter vertebral disc level in asymptomatic Korean patients with non-contrast abdominal CT scan. The location of the maximum fat ratio of the total fat area is the total fat area measured in male L2-3, L3-4, L4-5, female L4-5, and L5-S1. The location showing the maximum fat ratio of the subcutaneous fat area is the subcutaneous fat area measured in male L4-5, and the woman is the subcutaneous fat area measured in L4-5 and L5-S1. The location of the maximum fat ratio of visceral fat area was the visceral fat area measured in L1-2 and L2-3 males, and there was no difference in visceral fat area according to the measured position in females. Although abdominal fat measurement is common at the L4-5 inter vertebral disc level, fat distribution varies widely depending on nationality, race, and gender. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze through the research data which location to choose according to the research purpose, and to mention why the location is appropriate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1137-1142
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of apios (Apios americana Medikus) supplementation on visceral obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) with or without apios powder (10%, w/w) for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, apios supplementation reduced visceral fat mass significantly by 14.3% compared to the control group. Apios decreased significantly the atherogenic index, serum leptin level, hepatic lipid (free fatty acid and triglyceride) content, and lipid droplets, whereas it increased the serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. Hepatic lipogenic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, fatty acid synthase, and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 was down-regulated by apios supplementation. These results suggest that apios is a healthy food for preventing high-fat diet-induced visceral obesity and fatty liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.410-417
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• 2013

Caloric restriction is recognized as one of the best treatment options for obesity, and is associated with changes in body composition. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age in caloric restriction in overweight and obese women. In this caloric restriction study, nutrient intake of 61 women was evaluated using food records written by subjects for three days. Body composition and metabolic risk factors were assessed before and after caloric restriction. Blood levels of lipids, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat were evaluated using bioimpedance analysis. General linear models (GLM) identified the independent effects of age after co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Weight, fat mass, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and blood pressure showed a significant decrease by caloric restriction of 452 kcal/day. The percent changes in weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat were -4.5%, -12.0%, and -8.2%, respectively, after caloric restriction. The percent changes of weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat showed an independent association with age co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Decreased change in percent of leptin by caloric restriction also showed an association with age. Changes in body composition and leptin by caloric restriction showed an independent association with age. This may indicate greater difficulty in achievement of change of body composition as well as greater obesity-related metabolic risk with aging. Therefore, caloric restriction considering age should be recommended for effective dietary treatment in overweight or obese women.