• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.795-802
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• 1999

Objective : Cardiopulmonary exercise test is a useful tool to evaluate the operative risk and to plan exercise treatment for the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). In cardiopulmonary exercise test, most of the measured parameters are recorded at the time of peak exercise, which are hard to attain in COPD patients. So we evaluated the usefulness of the parameter, breathing reserve index(BRI=minute ventilation [$V_E$]/maximal voluntary ventilation[MVV]) at the time of anaerobic threshold($BRI_{AT}$) for the differentiation of COPD patients with normal controls. Methods : Thirty-six COPD patients and forty-two healthy subjects underwent progressive, incremental exercise test with bicycle ergometer upto possible maximal exercise. All the parameters was measured by breath by breath method. Results : The maximal oxygen uptake in COPD patients (mean$\pm$SE) was $1061.2{\pm}65.6ml/min$ which was significantly lower than $2137.6{\pm}91.4ml/min$ of normal subjects(p<0.01). Percent predicted maximal oxygen uptake was 54.3% in COPD patients and 86.0% in normal subjects(p<0.01). Maximal exercise(respiratory quotient; $VCO_2/VO_2{\geq}1.09$) was accomplished in 7 of 36 COPD patients(19.4%) and in 18 of 42 normal subjects(42.9%). The $BRI_{AT}$ of COPD patients was higher($0.50{\pm}0.03$) than that of control subject($028{\pm}0.02$, p<0.01), reflecting early hyperventilation in COPD patient during exercise. The correlation between $BRI_{AT}$ and BRI at maximal exercise in COPD patients was good(r=0.9687, p<0.01). Conclusion : The $BRI_{AT}$ could be a useful parameter for the differentiation of COPD patients with normal controls in the submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise test.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.532-545
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of Korean medical treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and electroacupuncture by using the portable gas chromatograph OralChroma$^{TM}$ (Abimedical, Japan) in halitosis patients. Methods: We surveyed 30 halitosis patients who had visited the Oral Diseases Clinic in the Korean Medical Hospital of Kyunghee University from October, 2013 to November, 2014. Before starting Korean medical treatment, the subjects were evaluated on sociodemographic characteristics, severity of discomfort using visual analogue scale (VAS), unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), and halitosis associated life-quality test (HALT) score. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, we measured the volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in breath by using OralChroma$^{TM}$ before and after 3 weeks treatment. Results: The concentration of total VSCs measured by OralChroma$^{TM}$ significantly decreased (p=0.001). Furthermore, the level of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan also significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, although the level of dimethyl sulfide decreased as well, there was no significance(p>0.05). Conclusions: Korean medical treatment was effective in treating halitosis by decreasing VSCs. Further study, with well-designed randomized controlled trials with larger number of cases will be needed in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4747-4753
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• 2016

Background: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Indonesia has been reported to be exceedingly low. The purpose of our study was to confirm whether this is the case in Northern Jakarta using a sensitive 13C-urea breath test (UBT), and to examine any associations with lifestyle/environment factors and potential routes of transmission. Methods: We recruited a total of 196 subjects from a low-income community in Northern Jakarta, Indonesia, data from 193 who completed a questionnaire about their lifestyle/environment and had UBT being included as the final. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for sex and age with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a logistic regression model. Results: The overall H. pylori infection rate was 15.0% (95%CI, 10.3-20.9), with variation among Javanese (9.1%, total=77), Buginese (40.0%, 35), Betawi (9.1%, 33), Sundanese (3.7%, 27), and Batak (40.0%, 5). On multivariate analysis, the ORs for intake of soybean milk, cucumber more than once a week, infrequent hand washing practice before meals, and alcohol consumption were 0.10 (95%CI: 0.01-0.97), 6.61 (95%CI: 1.87-23.3), 4.10 (95%CI: 1.15-14.6), and 61.9 (95%CI: 1.67-2300.8), respectively. Rates for Buginese (OR=7.84; 95%CI: 1.82-33.8) and Batak (OR=20.1; 95%CI: 1.90-213.2) were significantly higher than for Javanese. Conclusions: The H. pylori infection rate in this study was relatively low, in line with previous studies. Regarding ethnicity factors, Buginese and Batak reported eating food using fingers more frequently than Javanese, Betawi, and Sundanese. Our study indicated that person-person transmission is possible in this low prevalence area. The low infection rates for H. pylori among Javanese, Betawi, and Sundanese ethnics could be partly due to their sanitary practices.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.250-255
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• 2015

Purpose: To compare audio-only biofeedback to conventional audiovisual biofeedback for regulating patients' respiration during four-dimensional radiotherapy, limiting damage to healthy surrounding tissues caused by organ movement. Materials and Methods: Six healthy volunteers were assisted by audiovisual or audio-only biofeedback systems to regulate their respirations. Volunteers breathed through a mask developed for this study by following computer-generated guiding curves displayed on a screen, combined with instructional sounds. They then performed breathing following instructional sounds only. The guiding signals and the volunteers' respiratory signals were logged at 20 samples per second. Results: The standard deviations between the guiding and respiratory curves for the audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback systems were 21.55% and 23.19%, respectively; the average correlation coefficients were 0.9778 and 0.9756, respectively. The regularities between audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback for six volunteers' respirations were same statistically from the paired t-test. Conclusion: The difference between the audiovisual and audio-only biofeedback methods was not significant. Audio-only biofeedback has many advantages, as patients do not require a mask and can quickly adapt to this method in the clinic.

• Journal of The Korean Digital Architecture Interior Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.53-59
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• 2011

In creative design, it is necessary to understand the characteristic of architectural design. In the world of design problem, a distinction can be made between those that are well-defined and those that are ill-defined. Well-defined problems are those for which the ends or goal, are already prescribed and apparent, their solution requires the provision of appropriate means. For ill-defined problems, on the other hand, both the ends and the means of solution are unknown at the outset of the problem solving exercise, at least in their entirety. Most of design problems is ill-defined, which is unknown at the beginning of the problem solving exercise. In order to solve the design problem, Designers take advantage of the search methods of problem space, such as global-search-methods(depth-first-methods, breath-first-methods), local-search-methods(generate and test, heuristics, hill-climbing, reasoning) and visual thinking, which is represented through sketching. Sketching is a real part of design reasoning and it does so through a special kind of visual imagery. Also in the design problem solving it have been an important means of problem exploration and solution generation. By sketching, they represent images held in the mind as well as makes graphic images which help generate mental images of entity that is being designed. The search methods of problem space and a visual thinking have been crucially considered in the architectural design. The purpose of this paper is to explore the property of design by means of the pre-existed-experiment data and literature research. The findings will help design the architectural design for more creative results.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.347-349
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• 2009

Air quality of indoor space environment is affected by various pollutants like as particles and chemical stuffs. The indoor air pollution affects directly the human respiration organs to cause consequently unpleasant mental status. The $CO_2$ concentration level is one of the harmful components of air pollutants. Major factor to increase the $CO_2$ concentration level is the people's breath amount in indoor. The car exhaust gas diffused from the around road also has strong affect on $CO_2$ concentration. There are some other reasons to affect the $CO_2$ concentration change, such as, real-time change of the population movement, closeness to the indoor air flow inlet window and changes in road car traffic amount. A remote monitoring system to measure environmental indoor air pollution concerning on the $CO_2$ concentration was studied and installed realized set-up model. Zigbee network configuration was applied for this system and the $CO_2$ concentration data were collected through USN network. A software program was developed to assure systematic analysis and to display real-time data on web pages. For the experimental test various condition was set up, like as, window opening, stopping air condition operation and adjusting fan heater work, etc. The analysis result showed the relation of various environmental conditions to $CO_2$ concentration changes. The causes to increase $CO_2$ concentration were experimentally defined as windows closing, the stopping air condition system, fan heater operation. To keep the $CO_2$ concentration under the legally required ppm level in public access indoor space, the developed remote measurement system will be usefully applied.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2010

This clinical study was performed to evaluate whether supplementation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy with Korean red ginseng can enhance Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and reduce levels of halitosis-associated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the stomach. Seventy-six patients were randomized into an eradication regimen-only group (n=45) or an eradication regimen plus 10 weeks of Korean red ginseng supplementation group (n=31). The eradication regimen consisted of PPI b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d.. for seven days. Korean red ginseng supplementation commenced on the last day of the eradication regimen. $^{13}C$-urea breath test and halimeter measurements were performed prior to protocol repetition. By intention-to-treat analysis, the H. pylori eradication rate in the Korean red ginseng group (77.4%, 24 of 31) was higher than that in the control group (45.0%, 26 of 45). However, by per protocol analysis, the eradication rate in the Korean red ginseng group was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.3%, 24/26 vs. 69.4%, 26/38; p<0.05). H. pylori infection was significantly associated with increased VSC levels. However, VSC levels decreased significantly in the Korean red ginseng group (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of triple therapy with Korean red ginseng increased the H. pylori eradication rate and led to significant reductions in VSC levels, suggesting the usefulness of this substance in combating H. pylori infection.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.893-898
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• 2011

Milk contains a number of nutrients required for human growth and development, such as disaccharide lactose which is significantly contained in milk and dairy products. About two thirds of world populations are reportedly suffering from lactose intolerance after drinking milk. Lactose intolerance is defined as a maldigestion of lactose in the human intestine with typical symptoms of abdominal pains, bloating, and diarrhea. In this study, incidence of lactose intolerance has been investigated for the elementary school children for 1 year from July, 2010 to June, 2011. It is found that about 70% of the total elementary students have joined the school milk program. Out of 636 total students that participated in this study, 449 were from the metropolis, 85 from middle-sized city, and 102 from the small town including rural areas (small town/rural areas). For distributions of lactose intolerance, 154 students (24.2%) were found to be positive among the total 636 subjects. Based on the size of the city, the symptoms were the most prevalent for the students in the small town/rural areas at 31.4% (32/102), followed by 30.6% (26/85) in middle-sized city, and 21.4% (96/449) in the metropolis. On the other hand, gender had no significant effect on the incidence of lactose intolerance, shown those for boys and girls were 24.8% (77/310), 23.6% (77/326), respectively. Further research is needed to confirm the correct incidence of lactose intolerance symptoms as the frequency is significantly affected by subject's digestive functions including irritable bowel syndrome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4353-4356
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• 2015

Background: Levofloxacin is an effective medication for second line Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. However, limited studies have approved its use as an effective antibiotic in first line therapy. Dexlansoprazole is a new PPI and lacks of evidence in support of a role in H. pylori eradication. This study was designed to evaluate efficacy of levofloxacin-dexlansoprazole-based quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Thailand. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized control study was performed during June 2014 to December 2014. H. pylori infected gastritis patients were randomized to receive 7- or 14-day levofloxacin-dexlansoprazole based on quadruple therapy (levofloxacin 500 mg OD, dexlansoprazole 60 mg bid, clarithromycin MR 1000 mg OD, bismuth subsalicylate 1048 mg bid). CYP2C19 genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted for all patients. A 13C urea breath test was performed to confirm H. pylori eradication at least 4 weeks after treatment. Results: A total of 100 patients were enrolled, comprising 44 males and 56 females (mean age of 52.6 years). Eradication rate by PP analysis was 85.7% (42/49) with the 7-day regimen and 98% (48/49) with the 14-day regimen (85.7% vs 98%; p-value=0.059). ITT analysis was 84% and 96% with 7- and 14-day regimens, respectively (84% vs 96%; p-value=0.092). Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated 35.1% resistance to metronidazole, 18.3% to clarithromycin, and 13.5% to levofloxacin. CYP2C19 genotyping revealed 54.1% RM, 34.7% IM and 11.2% PM. The 14-day regimen provided 100% eradication in patients with clarithromycin or dual clarithromycin and metronidazole H. pylori resistant strains. Moreover, the eradication rate was 96.6% in patients with CYP2C19 genotype RM. Conclusions: The 14-day levofloxacin-dexlansoprazole based quadruple therapy provides high H. pylori eradication regardless of CYP2C19 genotype, clarithromycin or dual clarithromycin and metronidazole resistant strains. This regimen could be use as an alternative first line therapy for H. pylori eradication in Thailand.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4973-4977
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• 2012

Introduction: Tobacco use is a global health care problem. Repetitive exposure to nicotine produces neuroadaptation resulting in nicotine dependence. Smoking is associated with a range of diseases, causing high levels of morbidity and mortality and is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, with more than 4.6 million smokers worldwide dying each year from smoking related illnesses. Stopping smoking has major health benefits. Quitting at any age provides both short and long term benefits. Materials and methods: 45 patients attending the outpatient department at the Oxford Dental College, Bangalore, were randomly allocated to three groups of interventions namely placebo, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Initially each one was assessed for carbon monoxide levels using a breath analyser (pico smokerlyser bedfont UK). They were followed up for six months and the carbon monoxide levels were again assessed using the same instrument. The paired t test was used to compare the results before and after the intervention. Results: The scores before the initiation of intervention and after treatment were compared and all three interventions were found to be statistically significant after six months. It was noticed that patients with very low or low dependence followed by high dependence had good response in the placebo group (68% and 47.6% respectively), in the counseling group maximum response was seen in the medium followed by the very low group (61% and 59% respectively), and maximum response was seen in very high followed by the very low group with NRT (78.7% and 60.5% respectively). Conclusion: The inference that can be drawn from the present study is that non-invasive, non pharmacological methods like placebo and counseling are effective in low to medium groups, and NRT is effective with higher nicotine dependence.