• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a valid instrument for measuring the dietary quality and behaviors of Korean elderly. Methods: The development of the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E) was conducted in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 41 items of the NQ-E checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analyses of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the level of agreement between the questionnaires and nutrient intake level, and 24 items were selected for a nationwide survey. A total of 1,000 nationwide elderly subjects completed the checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-E was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. Results: The nineteen checklist items were used as final items for NQ-E. Checklist items were composed of four-factors: food behavior (6 items), balance (4 items), diversity (6 items), and moderation (3 items). The standardized path coefficients were used as the weights of the items. The NQ-E and four-factor scores were calculated according to the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. Conclusion: NQ-E would be a useful tool for assessing the food behavior and dietary quality of the elderly.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2014

Purpose : This study assessed the improvement of competency levels for participants, as well as their satisfaction from completion of the special international disaster response program. Methods : The program structure followed an intensive two-week course that included a combination of lectures, discussions, case studies, and field trips. "ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies" was used for designing the program. A pre-post survey was done to measure the change in the competencies of students and assess their satisfaction after finishing the program. Focus group interviews were also performed to further understand the attitudes of participants toward the disaster issues. Results : The overall pre-program test score for disaster competency was $2.18{\pm}0.68$ and the post-program test score was $6.30{\pm}0.84$, which showed statistically significant gains in all competency items (p <.001). The general satisfaction of participants with the program was quite high, demonstrated by a mean score of $4.5{\pm}0.51$. The benefits for students from program participation included increased knowledge and better understanding of the important roles of international organizations and NGOs. Conclusion : The international disaster education programs are necessary to provide an opportunity for students to increase their disaster competency. In addition, future development of a unified educational competency framework is also necessary.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2006

Background: Luteolin, a flavone found in various Chinese herbal medicines is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties through its ability to inhibit various proinflammatory signaling pathways including NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effect of luteolin on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Materials and Methods: We used a transgenic mouse model expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the transcriptional control of NF-${\kappa}B$ $cis$-elements. C57BL/6 NF-${\kappa}B^{EGFP}$ mice received 2.5% DSS in their drinking water for six days in combination with daily luteolin administration (1mg/kg body weight, 0.1ml vol, intragastric) or vehicle. NF-${\kappa}B$ activity was assessed macroscopically with a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera and microscopically by confocal analysis. Results: A significant increase in the Disease Activity Index (DAI), histological score (p<0.05), IL-12 p40 secretion in colonic stripe culture (p<0.05) and EGFP expression was observed in luteolin and/or DSS-treated mice compared to water-treated mice. Interestingly, a trend toward a worse colitis (DAI, IL-12p40) was observed in luteolin-treated mice compared to non-treated DSS-exposed mice. In addition, EGFP expression (NF-${\kappa}B$ activity) strongly increased in the luteolin-treated mice compared to control mice. Confocal microscopy showed that EGFP positive cells were primarily lamina propria immune cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that luteolin is not a therapeutic alternative for intestinal inflammatory disorders derived for primary defects in barrier function. Thus, therapeutic intervention targeting these signaling pathways should be viewed with caution.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1030-1038
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate whether early visual acuity response at 4 weeks after the first intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection or 4 weeks after the third injection in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is associated with 12-month follow-up outcome. Methods: Thirty treatment-naive patients (30 eyes) with nAMD, treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF, were retrospectively included. Initially, all patients were injected at least three times for three consecutive months and followed up with a pro re nata regimen for at least 12 months. The relationship between 4 weeks after the first and third anti-VEGF injections in visual acuity response was explored, including the mean change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The mean change in BCVA was classified into three groups according to visual improvement: <1, 1-<3, or ${\geq}3$ logMAR line(s) in BCVA. The associations among baseline characteristics (gender, age, duration of symptoms, initial BCVA, central macular thickness, and intraocular pressure) and visual acuity responses 4 weeks after the first and third anti-VEGF injections were also assessed. Results: The proportions of eyes with <1, 1-<3, and ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement at 4 weeks after the first injection were 6 eyes (20%), 7 eyes (23.3%), and 17 eyes (56.6%), respectively. The proportions of eyes with <1, 1-<3, and ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection were 9 eyes (30%), 9 eyes (30%), and 12 eyes (40%), respectively. A BCVA response ${\geq}3-lines$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection showed significant associations with ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement and BCVA response at 12 months in multiple logistic and linear regression analyses (p = 0.04). Conclusions: In this study, BCVA response ${\geq}3-lines$ improvement at 4 weeks after the third injection showed a significant association with ${\geq}3-line(s)$ improvement and BCVA response at 12 months.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2016

Objectives: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of carotid artery plaque are widely used as preclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Due to operator dependency in measuring CIMT, it is important to evaluate the reliability of measuring CIMT and plaque between centers in a multicenter study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of CIMT and plaque presence among three clinical centers of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center (CMERC). Methods: Twenty people without known cardiovascular disease (age 37-64) were enrolled during 2014-2015, and their left and right carotid arteries were examined repeatedly with ultrasonography for CIMT measurements at three clinical centers according to a predetermined protocol. Maximum and mean values of CIMT at distal common carotid artery were recorded. Plaque presence at a carotid artery was checked by an operator. The reliability of CIMT and carotid plaque presence was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and kappa statistics, respectively. Results: Calculated ICC was 0.647 (95% CI: 0.487-0.779) for maximum CIMT, and 0.758 (95% CI: 0.632- 0.854) for mean CIMT. In Bland Altman plot, most observed values were distributed within mean difference ${\pm}1.96$ SD ranges. Kappa statistics of plaque presence between two centers were 0.304 (center 1 and 2), 0.507 (center 1 and 3), and 0.606 (center 2 and 3), respectively, while Fleiss kappa for overall agreement was 0.445. Conclusions: The inter-rater reliability of CIMT measurements among three clinical centers turned out to be high, and the agreement of measuring carotid plaque presence was fair.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1152-1159
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• 2018

Purpose: We prospectively investigated clinical changes and long-term outcomes after administration of the drugs recommended by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study-2 to patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This prospective multicenter study enrolled 79 eyes of 55 patients taking lutein and zeaxanthin. The primary endpoint was contrast sensitivity; this was checked every 12 months for a total of 36 months after treatment commenced. The secondary endpoints were visual acuity, central macular thickness, and drusen volume; the latter two parameters were assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Results: The mean patient age was $72.46{\pm}7.16years$. Contrast sensitivity gradually improved at both three and six cycles per degree. The corrected visual acuity was $0.13{\pm}0.14logMAR$ and did not change significantly over the 36 months. Neither the central macular thickness nor drusen volume changed significantly. Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity markedly improved after treatment, improving vision and patient satisfaction. Visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and drusen volume did not deteriorate. Therefore, progression of AMD and visual function deterioration were halted.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.49
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• pp.323.1-323.12
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• 2018

Background: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to prevent thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients has limitations such as drug interaction. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Korean patients treated with VKA for stroke prevention and assessed quality of VKA therapy and treatment satisfaction. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study. Patients with $CHADS_2{\geq}1$ and treated with VKA (started within the last 3 months) were enrolled from April 2013 to March 2014. Demographic and clinical features including risk factors of stroke and VKA treatment information was collected at baseline. Treatment patterns and international normalized ratio (INR) level were evaluated during follow-up. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) > 60% indicated well-controlled INR. Treatment satisfaction on the VKA use was measured by Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) after 3 months of follow-up. Results: A total of 877 patients (age, 67; male, 60%) were enrolled and followed up for one year. More than half of patients (56%) had $CHADS_2{\geq}2$ and 83.6% had $CHA_2DS_2-VASc{\geq}2$. A total of 852 patients had one or more INR measurement during their follow-up period. Among those patients, 25.5% discontinued VKA treatment during follow-up. Of all patients, 626 patients (73%) had poor-controlled INR (TTR < 60%) measure. Patients' treatment satisfaction measured with TSQM was 55.6 in global satisfaction domain. Conclusion: INR was poorly controlled in Korean NVAF patients treated with VKA. VKA users also showed low treatment satisfaction.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.58 no.8
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• pp.960-967
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• 2017

Purpose: To compare the macular choroidal thickness in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) with those with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Methods: A total of 70 normal eyes, 74 eyes with TAO and 60 eyes with NTG were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Cirrus HD-OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). Macular choroidal thickness was assessed using enhanced depth imaging. The average macular choroidal thickness was defined as the average value of three measurements: at the fovea and at the points located 1.5 mm in the nasal and temporal directions from the fovea. Generalized estimating equations were used to uncover factors affecting the average macular choroidal thickness. Results: The average, superior and inferior quadrant retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses were significantly thinner in the NTG group compared with the TAO and control groups (p < 0.001). The average macular choroidal thickness of the TAO group, NTG group and controls was $281.01{\pm}60.06{\mu}m$, $241.66{\pm}55.00{\mu}m$ and $252.07{\pm}55.05{\mu}m$, respectively, which were significantly different (p = 0.013). The subfoveal, nasal and temporal side choroidal thicknesses were significantly thinner in the NTG group compared with the TAO group (p = 0.014, 0.012 and 0.034, respectively). Subjects with TAO were associated with a thicker average macular choroidal thickness compared with the NTG group after adjusting for age, sex, spherical equivalent and intraocular pressure (${\beta}=32.61$, p = 0.017). Conclusions: Macular choroidal thickness was significantly thicker in patients with TAO compared with those with NTG. Further evaluation is required to determine if a thick choroid in subjects with TAO has any role in glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.175-186
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• 2009

Objective: We examined the effect of different culture media on oocyte maturation. Methods: Four groups of media, (1) 0.3% BSA mBASAL-XI-HTF, (2) 0.3% BSA mBASAL-XI-HTF with FSH, (3) 10% FBS mBASAL-XI-HTF and (4) 10% FBS mBASAL-XI-HTF with FSH were prepared. Mouse cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) were incubated in each group of medium. Hypoxanthine (Hx) was mixed to each group of medium in increasing concentrations of 1 mM, 2 mM and 4 mM. CEOs were incubated and assessed for GVBD and MII development at 3, 6, 18 hours. Results: CEOs maturation to GVBD was seen in all four groups during 3 hours of culture, however MII stage of oocytes was seen after 6 hours. Complete arrest of GV stage in 4 mM Hx media without FSH and partial arrest in 2 mM Hx media without FSH were seen during 18 hours of culture but development was not suppressed in 1 mM Hx media without FSH. More prominent GVBD suppression was noted at early 3, 6 hours culture in 1 mM, 2 mM Hx media with FSH compared to media without FSH. But the suppression was recovered at 18 hours. This result suggests that low concentrated Hx and FSH supplemented media can suppress CEOs maturation during early culture period but recovery is resumed or even stimulated at late period. 1 mM, 2 mM Hx 10% FBS medium with FSH had significantly higher rates of MII development (71.7%, 66.7%) at 18 hours compared to other media. Conclusion: Our results show that low concentrated Hx and FSH supplemented 10% FBS media may stimulate MII development after an initial inhibitory effect.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2016

Objectives : This study analyzed the differences of body mass index(BMI) in Korean patients with Alzheimer's diseases(AD), Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI), and healthy controls to verify whether low BMI is associated with cognitive impairment. Furthermore, this study also sought to examine any association between BMI and Mini Mental State Examination-Korean version(MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and Global Deterioration Scale(GDS). Methods : A total of 257 subjects were included in the study. History taking, mental status examination, physical examination and neurocognitive function test were carried out for the diagnosis of AD and MCI. The subjects' demographic data and presence of diseases were also surveyed. The overall cognitive function and severity of diseases were assessed using MMSE-K, GDS, and CDR. Results : The order of BMI was found to be healthy controls>MCI>AD, with statistically significant differences among the groups. The order of MMSE-K scores was similar, with healthy controls>MCI>AD in statistically significant differences. The healthy controls had the lowest CDR and GDS scores, and AD patients had the highest scores. There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and MMSE scores(r=0.238, p=0.000). BMI was negatively correlated with CDR(r=-0.174, p=0.008) as well as with GDS(r=-0.233, p= 0.000). Conclusions : Measuring BMI of patients with AD or MCI is expected to be meaningful in that BMI could be a clinical indicator of AD. We expect this to be beneficial for the diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic approach of AD and also expect large-scale, long-term longitudinal studies to follow.