• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.150-157
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• 2021

Background: Stress as a cause of mental health problems is known to be more prevalent in women than in men and has a negative effect on several aspects of physical health, such as the composition of blood and saliva. This study investigated the relationship of perceived stress with blood cell counts, saliva flow rate, and saliva factors. Methods: We recruited women in their 20s with a high prevalence of stress. Stress was evaluated using the Korean version of the perceived stress scale. Blood tests included white blood cell, hemoglobin, and platelet. We then examined the saliva flow rate and cariogenic bacteria level, acidity, occult blood, buffer capacity, leukocyte level, protein level, and ammonia level using rinse water with the SILL-Ha^Ⓡ saliva test system. Results: In a total of 70 participants, the average age was 21.64 years old, the average perceived stress score was 16.96±4.32, and high levels of stress were reported by 80% of the participants (n=56). The high-stress group had lower hemoglobin levels. In addition, the high-stress group showed a lower saliva flow rate than the low-stress group, and there was a difference in the salivary acidity and buffer capacity. The total perceived stress score showed a positive correlation with acidity and negative correlation with buffer capacity and the hemoglobin level. Conclusion: This study found that stress in female college students might affect the composition of blood and saliva. High levels of stress were positively correlated with the hemoglobin level, saliva flow rate, and acidity and negatively correlated with the buffer capacity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of berberine on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched seven electronic databases for studies through October 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RTCs) of berberine were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. The RevMan 5.4.1 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 279 relevant studies were identified, and 6 eligible RCTs were included to study the efficacy berberine on NAFLD. The six selected trials are studies on the effect between berberine and conventional treatment combined treatment versus conventional treatment. Liver function tests, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels were assessed. Combination treatment with berberine, ursodeoxycholate acid, metformin, and monascus purpureus showed statistically significant improvements in liver function levels, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels compared to conventional treatment alone. However, there was no significant efficacy of berberine combination dietary, exercise than control group on NAFLD. The meta-analysis results of examining 4 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of berberine showed statistically significant improvement in the liver function test, blood lipids levels, blood glucose levels. Conclusions: This study suggests that berberine has positive efficacy on blood lipids, blood glucose liver function, fatty liver condition of NAFLD. However, the level of evidence is low because of small effect size,so further investigation is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7459-7465
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• 2014

Background: A prior study showed blood type A/AB to be associated with an increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) compared to subjects with blood type O. However, the relationship between ABO blood groups and prognosis of NPC patients is still questionable. In addition, whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with prognosis of NPC patients with different ABO blood groups is unclear. Materials and Methods: We conducted univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses based on a consecutive cohort of 1,601 patients to investigate the above issues. Results: There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between different ABO blood groups (p=0.629), neither between A vs. non-A blood groups (p=0.895) nor AB vs. non-AB blood group (p=0.309) in univariate analyses and after adjusting for other factors. Interaction tests revealed that high immunoglobulin A against Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen (VcA-IgA) level was associated with a favorable prognosis in male patients with UICC stage II disease who had an A blood type (p=0.008), compared with those with non-A blood type. In addition, male patients with an A blood group with a high blood lymphocyte level showeda tendency towards better survival in UICC stage III (p=0.096). Conclusions: ABO blood group status is not associated with the prognosis of patients with NPC. Additionally, blood group A male NPC patients with high VcA-IgA level or high blood lymphocyte counts might be correlated with a favorable prognosis in UICC stage II or III, respectively.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.145-152
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• 2014

This Study was done to estimate the availability of biological resistance analysis method in medical equipment companies in Korea, and if it is usefull in predicting risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease and managing of it, by means of comparing it with blood tests. Especially, we analyzed the correlation between circumference length and fat thickness of each site of body area, which are ones of among measurement values of the BIA. This study has the purpose to propose the use of BIA as basement of diagnosis for efficient management and assessment in the medical device industry in our country.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.73-76
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• 2015

Isolated sphenoid sinusitis is a rare disease in children, and its symptoms are often nonspecific and confusing. Rarely, severe headache can be the first or only symptom of isolated sphenoid sinusitis. New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a form of chronic daily headache that may have features of both migraines and tension-type headaches. NDPH is difficult to diagnose and requires a multifaceted approach. Here, we report on a 10-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl who both presented with typical NDPH symptoms. These patients had no nasal symptoms or signs of infection. Neither nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs nor topiramate had any effect on the headaches. Their neurological and ophthalmological examinations were normal. The results of routine blood work, including thyroid function tests, inflammatory markers, complete blood count, tests for viral infection, and a metabolic panel, were normal. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed isolated sphenoid sinusitis. Both patients' symptoms resolved completely after approximately 1 month of oral antibiotics for sinusitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.175-177
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among the population as a whole and among females, yet it is highly curable if diagnosed at an early stage. Different methods are used to diagnose breast cancer. One of these methods features immunological tests using flow cytometry to determine T-lymphocyte (CD4/CD8) ratios in peripheral blood. One hundred patients with breast cancer (50 from Basra, Iraq, and 50 from Baku, Azerbaijan) confirmed to have breast cancer by histopathology were studied. Blood samples were collected from all patients before initiation of treatment and were used for analysis. The mean age of women from Basra was $51.2{\pm}10.7years$ and that of women from Baku was slightly higher at $54.8{\pm}12.2$. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio in Basra was 1.4 and in Baku was 1.8 with P value < 0.05. The percentage of Basra patients who have CD4/CD8 value less than 1 was 50%, while the percentage for Baku patients was 24 % (p < 0.05). While the CD4/CD8 T-lymphocyte ratio might be useful for early diagnosis in patients with breast cancer parallel with other confirmed tests factors involved in explaining variation between countries such as that observed here need to be taken into account.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.180-182
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• 2015

A 3 year-old pregnant female Yorkshire terrier dog was presented with major complaints of polyuria and polydipsia. Laboratory tests found persistent hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Abdominal ultrasound study found 2 dead fetuses. Ovarian hysterectomy was performed to remove the dead fetuses. After ovarian hysterectomy, the level of blood glucose was returned to normal range. In addition, the clinical signs and urine glucose were all disappeared. Based on findings on laboratory tests and follow-up study, the case was diagnosed as gestational diabetes mellitus. To our best knowledge, this is the first case report describing a gestational diabetes mellitus of dog in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 1987

A total of 129 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus species was characterized by the tests of coagulase production, haemagglutination, mannitol fermentation, DNase production and hemolysis. Ninety-nine out of them showed positive reactions to the tests, therefore they were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. The isolates showing positive reaction in haemagglutination test also showed 100% of tube coagulase positive reaction. The haemagglutination test was a reliable method for identifying Staphylococcus aureus in the clinical laboratory. S. aureus produced stronger hemolysis with human blood agar than with sheep blood agar. Antibiotic resistant S. aureus isolates(S-46, S-112, S-126) had 4 to 6 p]asmid DNA elements. The S-112 strain had 6 plasmid DNA elements(1.8, 2.2, 3.7, $26.3{\sim}50$, and 70 Mdaltons), the S-126 had 4 elements(2.6, 4.2, $4.6{\sim}60Md$), and the S-46 had 1 element(${\sim}100Md$). PPSA strain had 4 plasmid DNA elements(2.5, 4.2, $4.6{\sim}60Md$) and S. aureurs(ATCC) strain contained 9.4, 26.3 and ${\sim}50Md$ plasmid DNA elements.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of myofascial release technique on pain threshold and hormonal changes in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Methods: Eight patients with adhesive capsulitis were treated with the myofascial release technique. Myofascial release is a form of manual therapy that involves the application of a low load, long duration stretch to the myofascial complex, intended to restore optimal length, decrease pain, and improve function. Blood tests and pressure pain threshold (PPT) examinations were performed on their first visit. On their second visit, the myofascial release technique was applied to the shoulder for 20 min. Then, blood tests and PPT were re-evaluated to determine the effects of the myofascial release technique on pain threshold and hormonal changes. Results: Pain threshold increased from 2.92 to 24.13 lb after treatment. Epinephrine decreased from .13 to .08 ng/mL whereas norepinephrine increased from .25 to .41ng/㎖ after treatment. Conclusion: Myofascial release technique in patients with adhesive capsulitis increased pain thresholds, norepinephrine and decreased epinephrine levels.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.spc1
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• pp.65-84
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• 2005

Invasive candidiasis is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical diagnosis is complicated by a lack of specific clinical signs and symptoms of disease. Laboratory diagnosis is also complex because circulating antibodies to Candida species may occur in normal individuals as the result of commensal colonization of mucosal surfaces thereby reducing the usefulness of antibody detection for the diagnosis of this disease. In addition, Candida species antigens are often rapidly cleared from the circulation so that antigen detection tests often lack the desired level of sensitivity. Microbiological confirmation is difficult because blood cultures can be negative in up to 50% of autopsy-proven cases of deep-seated candidiasis or may only become positive late in the infection. Positive cultures from urine or mucosal surfaces do not necessarily indicate invasive disease although can occur during systemic infection. Furthermore, differences in the virulence and in the susceptibility of the various Candida species to antifungal drugs make identification to the species level important for clinical management. Newer molecular biological tests have generated interest but are not yet standardized or readily available in most clinical laboratory settings nor have they been validated in large clinical trials. Laboratory surveillance of at-risk patients could result in earlier initiation of antifungal therapy if sensitive and specific diagnostic tests, which are also cost effective, become available. This review will compare diagnostic tests currently in use as well as those under development by describing their assets and limitations for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis.