• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.319-331
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• 2021

Heat stress (HS) causes adverse impacts on pig production and health. A potential biomarker of HS is required to predict its occurrence and thereby better manage pigs under HS. Information about the saliva metabolome in heat-stressed pigs is limited. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of acute HS on the saliva metabolome and identify metabolites that could be used as potential biomarkers. Growing pigs (n = 6, 3 boars, and 3 gilts) were raised in a thermal neutral (TN; 25℃) environment for a 5-d adaptation period (CON). After adaptation, the pigs were first exposed to HS (30℃; HS30) and then exposed to higher HS (33℃; HS33) for 24 h. Saliva was collected after adaptation, first HS, and second HS, respectively, for metabolomic analysis using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Four metabolites had significantly variable importance in the projection (VIP > 1; p < 0.05) different levels in TN compared to HS groups from all genders (boars and gilts). However, sex-specific characteristics affected metabolites (glutamate and leucine) by showing the opposite results, indicating that HS was less severe in females than in males. A decrease in creatine levels in males and an increase in creatine phosphate levels in females would have contributed to a protective effect from protein degradation by muscle damage. The results showed that HS led to an alteration in metabolites related to energy and protein. Protection from muscle damage may be attributed to the alteration in protein-related metabolites. However, energy-related metabolites showed opposing results according to sex-specific characteristics, such as sex hormone levels and subcutaneous fat layer. This study had shown that saliva samples could be used as a noninvasive method to evaluate heat-stressed pigs. And the results in this study could be contributed to the development of a diagnostic tool as a noninvasive biomarker for managing heat-stressed pigs.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) practitioners play a very pivotal role in establishing EIA policies, and when implementing EIA environmental conflicts can be prevented and resolved by sharing information with stakeholders and coordinating opinions. For this reason, grasping the perceptions of stakeholders including practitioners about the overall system, such as EIA policies and implementation, can be helpful in setting improvement directions and policy directions for EIA. However, there is an insufficient information on the perception and understanding of stakeholders about the EIA system and operation currently in effect in Korea. Therefore, this study diagnoses operational and procedural problems for the EIA system, which is a decision-making tool and a precautionary technique that can minimize adverse effects through the environmental information analysis method, and improvement points and systems of the EIA system in the future. We tried to find a complement of an online survey of 37 questions,responses from 95 responses from stakeholders of EIA were summarized. Stakeholders were aware of the problems of the operation of the current system and the preparation of the evaluation form, and this was reflected. Period and cost of preparation of EIS (49%), the introduction of a new method (26%) and the items of collecting opinions and conflict management (41%), which showed high negative response rates (dissatisfied and very dissatisfied), are considered to be areas that we need to supplement further in the future. As society develops rapidly, the system needs to be supplemented accordingly, and policy improvement efforts are needed for items with high negative responses as a result of the survey.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2021

Background: Post-transplant immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) is associated with kidney function impairment while mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, such as everolimus, can be used for its renal-sparing effects. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of everolimus with low dose tacrolimus (EVR+Low TAC) and conventional dose tacrolimus (TAC) in liver transplantation recipients. Methods: Medical records of recipients who received liver transplantation at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 1st 2009 to December 31st 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Cohort entry date was defined as the day everolimus was initiated and tacrolimus dosage was reduced. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Indicator of efficacy was the incidence of rejection and safety was evaluated by incidence of drug adverse events including renal function. Results: Among 118 patients, there were 40 patients (33.9%) in EVR+Low TAC group. Incidence of rejection, including both biopsy proven acute rejection and clinical rejection, was similar in two groups [7.5% (n=3) vs. 6.4% (n=5), p=1.000]. Renal dysfunction was less frequent in EVR+Low TAC [17.5% (n=7) vs. 35.9% (n=28), p=0.038]. However, incidence rates of dyslipidemia, oral ulcer were more frequent in EVR+Low TAC [45.0% (n=18) vs. 21.8% (n=17), p=0.009; 15.0% (n=6) vs. 1.3% (n=1), p=0.006]. Conclusions: In terms of prevention of rejection, EVR+Low TAC was as effective as TAC and had renal-sparing effect but was associated with increased risk of dyslipidemia and oral ulcer. This study demonstrates that EVR+Low TAC could be an alternative to liver transplant recipients with nephrotoxicity after administration of conventional dose tacrolimus.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2020

Air pollution is one of the most severe threats to society globally due to the rapid expansion of urbanization and industrialization. Particularly, particulate matter (PM) pollution was recently designated as a social disaster by the Korean government because of increases in public concerns and the accumulation of scientific evidence that links high levels of PM2.5 (PM smaller than 2.5 ㎛ in diameter) to a long list of adverse health effects. Atmospheric PM concentrations can also affect the indoor PM levels to which people are exposed most of the time. Thus, understanding the characteristics of indoor and ambient PM pollution based on measurements, model simulations, risk assessments, and management technologies is inevitable in establishing effective policies to mitigate social, economic, and health costs incurred by PM pollution. In this special issue, we introduce several interesting studies concerning indoor and outdoor PM from the perspective of monitoring, assessment, and management being conducted by i-SEED (School of Integrated Science for Sustainable Earth & Environmental Disaster at Pukyong National University) and SPMC (School Particulate Matter Center for Energy and Environmental Harmonization). We expect that this special issue can improve our understanding of the current and future of indoor and outdoor PM pollution, integrating the results from interdisciplinary research groups from various academic fields.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.139-147
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in brain activities when Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is used alone compare to NDT is combined with intradermal acupuncture (IDA) treatment, using functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) Methods Three children less than 7 year-old with cerebral palsy were participated. On their first visit, only NDT was used. After a week, they were treated with both NDT and IDA. During the treatment, fNIRS was used to measure any changes in their brain activities. Results In first patient with NDT, oxyhemoglobin level was increased during Standing exercise and Gait training compared to resting state. When the patient was treated with NDT and IDA, oxyhemoglobin level was decreased during Standing exercise and Gait training compared to resting state, and the result was significant (p<0.05). In second patient, oxyhemoglobin level was decreased in Gait training compared to resting state when NDT was used, but the level was increased when NDT and IDA were used in Gait training compared to resting state (p<0.05). In third patient, the difference in oxyhemoglobin levels between Gait training and resting state was significant (p<0.05). Conclusions Treatment involving both NDT and IDA has more potential to improve brain activities compared to that of NDT alone, and no adverse effect was reported. In order to confirm the finding, larger scale randomized controlled trials are needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2021

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is condition of cognitive decline shown in transition from normal aging to dementia. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) is a treatment that combines effects of medication and acupuncture by injecting Hominis placenta into acupoints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HPP for MCI. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-center clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either the HPP group or the placebo group. HPP or saline as placebo was administered to participants for eight weeks. Changes in symptoms were observed. The primary outcome was difference in mean change of Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score between the HPP group and the placebo group. Cognitive function, overall status of mood and sleep, and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. Safety assessment and economic analysis were then conducted. Results: Thirty participants were enrolled. One participant in the placebo group dropped out. The score of MoCA-K increased after treatment. Its mean change was smaller in the HPP group than in the control group. HPP ameliorated Global Deterioration Scale and Korean Dementia Rating Scale subtests for attention, organization, and memory compared to the placebo. However, none of them was significantly different between the two groups. Mood, sleep, and QoL all improved more in the HPP group than in the placebo group, although differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no adverse event probably related to the drug. HPP treatment needed KRW 345,000 more than the placebo group in improving Geriatric Quality of Life scale-Dementia score by one point for one year. Conclusions: Although HPP treatment did not significantly improve cognition, it changed behavioral and psychological symptoms in MCI.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.111-122
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• 2021

Objective : The worldwide Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the level of depression and decreased the quality of life. This has caused an adverse effect of deteriorating the quality of life. As such, this study attempted to determine the effects of COVID-19 on depression and quality of life. Methods : The content was analyzed by conducting an online survey for two months, from November 2020 to December 2020, targeting 270 adults in their 20s to 60s nationwide. Results : Among the subjects', those in their 50s showed the greatest change in depression (p<.05). In terms of quality of life, there were significant changes in all age groups (p<.001). Among the subject characteristics unmarried individuals showed greater depression after COVID-19 than those who were married (p<.012). In terms of quality of life, married individuals had a higher quality of life than those who were unmarried (p<.001). Conclusion : The results confirmed that COVID-19 increased depression and lowered the quality of life in adults. The impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, on society is constantly changing. This research needs to be updated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2022

In the Yeongdong region of Gangwon-do, coastal areas are important resources in terms of cultural, social and economic aspects. However, the coast of Gangwon-do is experiencing severe erosion, and it is concerned that its adverse effects will gradually increase. In this study, coastline changes of Yangyang and Gangneung in Gangwon-do were tracked and analyzed over a long period of time. In order to build time series image data, aerial photos from the 1940s to the present were mainly used, and data from CORONA satellite, which operated from the 1960s to the early 1970s, were collected and used together. Using 51cm resolution ortho image and 2m resolution Digital Elevation Model(DEM) as reference, ground control points were selected to perform geometric correction on the aerial photos and CORONA images. Subsequently, Canny edge detector applied to these images to extract the coastlines. As a result of analyzing the extracted and vectorized coastlines by overlaying them in chronological order, erosion and deposition occurring around the artificial structures and on the nearby beaches were observed. In this study, the effect of seasonal variation, tide, and various coastal management including the beach filling were not considered. Because coastal erosion is greatly affected by geographic factors, each local government must find its own solution. Continuous research and local data accumulation are required.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.625-642
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• 2022

Objectives: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common impairment of gastrointestinal motility and causes a delay in postoperative recovery, as well as an increased length of hospital stay, but no single strategy has a significant recuperative effect on POI. Studies of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) have reported improvements in bowel function after surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of TKM on postoperative ileus in gastric cancer patients. Methods: We used six databases to search for studies published from January 1, 2007, until May 11, 2022. The included studies were those reporting gastric cancer patients who received TKM treatment after gastrectomy through indicators related to POI. Results: The search identified 27 RCTs that used herbal medicine (Daegeonjung-tang and Gami-leejoongtang), herbal medicine combined with acupuncture (Sama-tang, Gumiseunggi-tang, Daeseunggi-tang, and Insam-tang), acupuncture, acupuncture and moxibustion, electroacupuncture, warm needling, transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA), low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation (LEAS), moxibustion, auricular acupressure, and ST-36 acupoint injection with neostigmine as treatments for POI. The time to first flatus was shortened by herbal medicine combined with warm needling (Sama-tang, Gumiseunggi-tang, Daeseunggi-tang, and Insam-tang), acupuncture, electroacupuncture, warm needling, TEA, moxibustion, auricular acupressure, and ST-36 acupoint injection with neostigmine (p<0.00001). The time to the first defecation decreased significantly in response to the herbal medicine combined with warm needling (Sama-tang, Gumiseunggi-tang, Daeseunggi-tang, and Insam-tang), acupuncture, electroacupuncture, warm needling, TEA, moxibustion, auricular acupressure, and ST-36 acupoint injection with neostigmine (p<0.00001). No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions: TKM could be a promising option for preventing and resolving POI in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2021

Objectives: This study reported about a patient with a right middle cerebral artery infarction whose gait disturbance was improved by Korean medicine treatment. Methods: The patient was treated with a Korean herbal medicine (Gami-yukmijihwang-tang) along with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and physical therapy. The treatment effect was evaluated with the manual muscle test (MMT) and the Korean version of the modified Barthel index (K-MBI). The gait of the patient was evaluated by a 10-m walk test (10MWT), the timed up and go (TUG) test, the functional ambulation profile (FAP) score, and the functional ambulatory category (FAC) score. Spatiotemporal parameters were evaluated using a walkway system (GAITRite®, CIR Systems, Inc., USA). Results: After 83 days of traditional Korean medicine treatment, the K-MBI and FAC scores improved from 50 to 70 and from 1 to 4, respectively. The 10MWT and TUG tests also improved from 24.86 to 16.66 sec and from 22.35 to 17.62 sec, respectively. GAITRite® measurements reflected gait improvements: the FAP score improved from 55 to 86 sec; the step time improved from 0.72 to 0.669 sec; the step length improved from 31.076 cm to 41.284 cm; the gait velocity improved from 42.8 cm/sec to 64.1 cm/sec; the cadence improved from 93.6 steps/min to 90.8 steps/min. No adverse effects resulting from treatment or evaluation occurred during the admission period. Conclusions: This study suggests that traditional Korean medicine treatment may reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with cerebral infarction.