• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.159-168
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• 2015

Forty-four surface sediments from Doam Bay were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and further chemical partitioning of metals were carried out in some samples. The TOC (0.32~3.10%) and TN (0.03~0.26%) values of the samples were similar to those of other coastal area. The C/N ratios ranged from 7.9 to 11.9 with an average 9.3 which revealed that contribution of terrestrial organic matters was relatively rare. Contents of analysed metals showed a level lower than threshold effects level (TEL) in sediment quality guidelines. Based on the chemical speciation of metals, the lattice fractions were found in the order Cr > Cu > Ni > Zn > Pb > Mn, while Mn and Pb are the ratio of the non-lattice fractions accounted for more than 50%. The average baseline values were obtained relative cumulative frequency curves and linear regression analysis. The respective baseline concentrations for Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr and Mn were 11.8, 23.1, 26.8, 76.6, 56.7, 585 mg/kg, respectively. Based on geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$) with a baseline values of Mn showed that face the contamination phase from estuarine stations. However, in case of Zn and Pb, although there is no sign of contamination, it could be release from sediment when there is a change in the environment, which is caused from the high ratio of non-lattice fractions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2002

Hypercholesterolemia is one of main causes of coronary heart disease(CHD). Clinical trials demonstrated that lowering serum cholesterol levels would reduce incidence of new cardiovascular events and mortality by primary or secondary preventions. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare efficacy and side effects of lovartatin and simvastatin in treatement of hypercholesterolemia. In Boramae Hospital, patients were included when they have taken lovastatin 20 mg or simvastatin 10 mg for 52 weeks with laboratory monitoring for cholesterol at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 month period. As results, total 128 outpatients were included with their total cholesterol level <240 mg/dl and triglyceride level <400 mg/dl at baseline. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of lovastatin group (n=60) and simvastatin group (n=68) were significantly reduced from baseline (p=0.001). Lovastatin maximally reduced total cholesterol by $23.9\%,\;triglyceride\;by\;12.3\%$, LDL cholesterol by $36.1\;\%$ and increased HDL cholerterol by $7.8\%$ and simvastatin reduced by $24.1\%,\;20.5\%,\;34.3\%\;respectively$ and HDL increased by $11.2\%$. There were no significant differences between lovastatin and simvastatin in mean percent change of lipid levels at 12, 24 and 52 weeks from baseline. Cumulative percentage of patients reaching the target LDL cholesterol concentration by 24 weeks was $61.7\%$ in lovastatin and $64.7\%$ in simvastatin. Average time to reach the target LDL goal was 100.1 days in lovastatin and 99.8 days in simvastatin. Both lovastatin and simvastatin also significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in all subgroups (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary heart disease). In this study, treatment efficacy in patients with coronary heart disease was lower than other patients. Considering clinical importance of secondary prevention, more intensive treatment is necessary to decrease LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg/dl or lower in patients with coronary heart disease or other clinical atherosclerotic disease. There were no serious side effects during the study period. Digestive side effects were most frequently reported (lovastatin $8.3\%\;vs\;simvastatin\;8.8\%$). In conclusion, both lovastatin and simvastatin were similar in lipid lowering effects and there was no difference in incidence of side effects.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.54-64
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• 2023

Objective : This study aims to ascertain the effect of oral activity and sensory integration therapy on drool and play using oral toys in children with developmental delays. Methods : The participants of the study were two children (2 years and 8 months) experiencing developmental delays with sensory modulation problems in their oral sensory faculties. The research design was multi-baseline design cross-subjects among single-subject research ABA. Target behaviors were measured by drooling and interest and concentration in play using oral toys through the Goal Attachment Scale (GAS). In the 10 sessions that the children underwent during the intervention period (B), oral activity and proprioception-vestibular sensory integration therapy were applied. Results : The GAS of drooling improved from 0.25 for child A and -0.5 for child B during the baseline to 1.88 for child A and 1.4 for child B during the intervention period. The follow-up was 3 for both child A and child B. Meanwhile, the GAS of play during the baseline was -0.75 for child A and 0.75 for child B, and 1.9 for child A and 1.1 for child B during the intervention period. The follow-up was 1.33 for child A and 2 for child B. Conclusion : Oral activity and proprioceptive-vestibular sensory integration therapy are effective in drooling and playing with oral toys in children with sensory modulation problems in their oral sensory faculties.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.379-389
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• 2007

This paper presents an attempt to determine natural background levels of heavy metals which could be used for assessing heavy metal contamination. For this study, a large archive dataset of heavy metal concentration (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn) for more than 900 surface sediment samples from various Korean coastal environments was newly compiled. These data were normalized for aluminum (grain-size normalizer) concentration to isolate natural factors from anthropogenic ones. The normalization was based on the hypothesis that heavy metal concentrations vary consistently with the concentration of aluminum, unless these metals are of anthropogenic origin. So, the samples (outliers) suspected of receivingany anthropogenic input were removed from regression to ascertain the "background" relationship between the metals and aluminum. Identification of these outliers was tested using a model of predicted limits at 95%. The process of testing for normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test) and selection of outliers was iterated until a normal distribution was achieved. On the basis of the linear regression analysis of the large archive (please check) dataset, background levels, which are applicable to heavy metal assessment of Korean coastal sediments, were successfully developed for Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn. As an example, we tested the applicability of this baseline level for metal pollution assessment of Masan Bay sediments.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1997

Recently, the conclusion of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT) is globally constructing a network system for nuclear test monitoring. The radionuclide experts of the Conference on Disarmament recommended that the detection of nuclear debris in the atmosphere was an essential factor of nuclear test monitoring and proposed the technical requirements. Based on those requirements, atmospheric radionuclide monitoring system to detect nuclear debris generated from the nuclear explosion test was composed. The system is comprised of high volume air sampler(HVAS), filter paper presser and high purity germanium detector(HPGe). Minimum detectable concentrations(MDCs) of the key nuclides requiring in CTBT monitoring strategies are determined by considering of decay time, counting time and flow rate of the high volume air sampler for the rapid explosion and the optimum measurement condition. The results were selected $10{\pm}$2h, $20{\pm}$2h and $850{\pm}50m^3$/h as parameters, respectively. The relation between the natural air-borne radionuclide concentration of $^{212}Pb$ and MDC were calculated which gave effect in the Compton continuum baseline due to those nuclides in the gamma-ray spectroscopy. These results can be used as an actually tool in the CTBT monitoring strategies.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diet composition on serum leptin and lipids profiles in rats. At the baseline, seven 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, male, were sacrificed and the remaining rats were divided into five groups and each group was fed one of the following five dietary regiments for 2 weeks and 6 weeks;the control diet AIN76(CAL, n=2l), high-carbonhydrate(rice)(HCR, n=2l), high-carbohydrate(flour)(HCF, n=2l), high-fat(corn oil)(HFO, n=2l), high-fat(beef tallow)(HFB, n=2l). Serum leptin was determined by a double antibody ELISA assay at the baseline(n=7), 6 week(n=35) and 10 week of age(n=70). At 6 weeks of age, the increase in the Food Efficiency Ratio(FER) was related to adipocyte hyperplasia in rats on HFB diets. The serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol increased significantly in HFB group, and decreased in HFO group compared to control group. The HFC group showed significant increase in serum triglyceride level compared with control group. After 2 weeks and 6 weeks, noticeably high increases in epididymal adipose tissue fat cell mass and numbers were observed with the HFB fed group. Serum leptin levels increased as body weight increased over the period of time(4weeks; 1.50$\pm$0.13ng/ml versus 10weeks; 2.08$\pm$-.13ng/ml). And this result shows that there are 193% higher in rats fed high fat-beef tallow diet than the control diet. Serum leptin levels of the HFB group(4.01$\pm$0.39mg/ml) were significantly higher than that of the HFO(2.06$\pm$0.5613ng/ml), CAL(2.08$\pm$0.1313ng/ml), HCR(2.41$\pm$0.2113ng/ml) and HCF(2.80$\pm$0.4713ng/ml) at p<0.05. The serum leptin concentration was positively correlated with the amount of epididymal fat pads(r=0.47 p<0.01), serum triglyceride(r=0.49, p<0.001), tatal cholesterol(r=0.48, p<0.001), LDL-cholesterol(r=0.58, p<0.001), atherogenic index(r=0.67, p<0.001), and inversely correlated with HDL-cholesterol(r=-0.65, p<0.001). In conclusion, the changes in composition of dietary fat and carbohydrate intake could affect changes in concentration of serum lipids and leptin. Especially, the high-fat diet with animal fat source could increase circulating leptin level. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 123-131, 2001)

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1161-1170
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• 2000

Objective : The transverse hippocampal slice is one of the most commonly studied in vitro models of mammalian brain physiology. However, despite its broad usage, there has been no standardization of slice preparation techniques or recording condition. It is well known that variations in recording conditions can result in profound different effects to neuronal responses. Evoked field potentials, recorded extracellularly, were used to investigate the effects of variations in hippocampal slice preparation protocol on hypoxia responses of CA1 neurones. Material & Methods : Before hypoxic injury, hippocampal slices were incubated for 4 hours. During incubation period, the slices were placed in a incubation chamber($21^{\circ}C$) for recovery from preparation injury and then transferred to recording chamber($34^{\circ}C$) for more recovery and baseline electric recording with current stimulation(0.1Hz). Various time periods in incubation chamber and recording chamber were applied to each experimental group(group 1=60min : 180min, group 2=90min : 150min, group 3=180min : 60min, time in incubation chamber : time in recording chamber) before 10 min hypoxia produced by replacing 95% $O_2$+5% $CO_2$ mixed gas to 95% $N_2$+5% $CO_2$ gas. Calcium, Magnesium ions and several drugs effecting on glutamate receptor also were studied. Recoveries from hypoxic injury of hippocampal slices were estimated by percent recovery of population spike(PS). Statistic analysis of study were performed using paired t-test. Results : The percent recovery of PS after 10min hypoxia was considerably enhanced by increasing the period of current stimulation during incubation period before hypoxic injury. Temperature effect on the result of this experiment was also studied(group 4) but the result from this showed no statistic significance. Low magnesium ion concentration of artificial CSF(Mg-free aCSF) during incubation period enhanced the recovery of PS but low calcium (calcium-free) and high magnesium ion concentration(2mM) reduced it after hypoxic injury. L-glutamate($100{\mu}M$) and AP-5($50{\mu}M$) had no effect on the recovery of PS but CNQX($10{\mu}M$) in artificial CSF during incubation period markedly enhanced the recovery of PS. Co-treatment of AP-5($50{\mu}M$), CNQX($10{\mu}M$) and high magnesium concentration(2mM) enhanced recovery of PS in immediate following period of hypoxic injury but the effect of cotreatment after then decayed rapidly and lost statistic significance. Conclusions : Judging from above results, the condition of baseline recording is important in observing the recovery of population spike after hypoxia, and the time and the condition should be controled more strictly to obtain reliable results.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.226-238
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• 2021

Purpose: Although several reports have described the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, information about the association between periodontal disease and the progression of degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is lacking. Therefore, we performed a retrospective, single-center, pilot study to provide insight into this potential association. Methods: Data from 45 consecutive patients (19 men; median age, 83 years) with mild or moderate degenerative aortic stenosis were analyzed for a mean observation period of 3.3±1.9 years. The total amount of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and titers of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) against periodontal bacteria and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were evaluated. Aortic valve area (AVA), maximal velocity (Vmax), mean pressure gradient (mean PG), and the Doppler velocity index (DVI) were evaluated. The change in each parameter per year ([Parameter_LATEST-Parameter_BASELINE]/Follow-up Years) was calculated from the retrospective follow-up echocardiographic data (baseline vs. the most recently collected data [latest]). Results: No correlation was found between the concentration of periodontopathic bacteria in the saliva and AS status/progression. The anti-P. gingivalis antibody titer in the serum showed a significant positive correlation with AVA and DVI. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between the anti-P. gingivalis IgG antibody titer and mean PG. The hs-CRP concentration showed positive correlations with Vmax and mean PG. Meanwhile, a negative correlation was observed between the anti-P. gingivalis IgG antibody titer and ΔAVA/year and Δmean PG/year. The hs-CRP concentration showed positive correlations with Vmax and mean PG, and it was significantly higher in patients with rapid aortic stenosis progression (ΔAVA/year <-0.1) than in their counterparts. Conclusions: Our results suggest that periodontopathic bacteria such as A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis are not directly related to the status/progression of degenerative AS. However, inflammation and a lower immune response may be associated with disease progression.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2023

Background: Hypertonic saline is used for treating chronic pain; however, clinical studies that aid in optimizing therapeutic protocols are lacking. We aimed to determine the concentration of intrathecally injected hypertonic saline at which the effect reaches its peak as well as the underlying γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-related antinociceptive mechanism. Methods: Spinal nerve ligation (SNL; left L5 and L6) was performed to induce neuropathic pain in rats weighing 250-300 g. Experiment 1: one week after implanting the intrathecal catheter, 60 rats were assigned randomly to intrathecal injection with 0.45%, 0.9%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% NaCl, followed by behavioral testing at baseline and after 30 minutes, 2 hours, 1 day, and 1 week to determine the minimal concentration which produced maximal analgesia. Experiment 2: after determining the optimal intrathecal hypertonic saline concentration, 60 rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, hypertonic saline without pretreatment, and hypertonic saline after pretreatment with one of two GABA receptor antagonists (GABA_A [bicuculline], or GABA_B [phaclofen]). Behavioral tests were performed at weeks 1 and 3 following each treatment. Results: Hypertonic saline at concentrations greater than 5% alleviated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and had a significant therapeutic effect, while showing a partial time- and dose-dependent antinociceptive effect on thermal and cold hyperalgesia. However, pretreatment with GABA receptor antagonists inhibited the antinociceptive effect of 5% NaCl. Conclusions: This study indicates that the optimal concentration of hypertonic saline for controlling mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain is 5%, and that its analgesic effect is related to GABA_A and GABA_B receptors.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.39-52
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• 2023

This study analyzes the energy performance of a elderly care center building and the applicability of a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system through simulation approach. For this purpose, a building information modeling (BIM) program and an energy performance calculation program were used. The impact of the mechanical ventilation system on the energy requirements of the heating and cooling system and the indoor environment was also analyzed, focusing on the change in indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, which is a representative indicator of the indoor environment (air quality). The simulation results showed that the target building exceeds Level 7 in terms of simulated primary energy consumption or actual energy consumption. In addition, it was analyzed that the target building could not maintain the indoor CO₂ concentration below the standard concentration by natural ventilation through window opening alone. Combining the GSHP system with the mechanical ventilation system (Case B and Case C) can further reduce the overall energy consumption by reducing the amount of outdoor air introduced by opening windows. The cost savings compared to the baseline case are estimated to be 67.3% for Case A, 63.7% for Case B, 65.5% for Case C, and 42.5% for Case D. It is necessary to analyze the impact of various renewable energy technologies and passive ones on the energy performance and indoor environment of elderly care centers.