• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.362-369
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• 2019

Background: Chronic nonspecific symptoms attributed to indoor nonindustrial work environments are common and may cause disability, but the medical nature of this disability is unclear. The aim was to medically characterize the disability manifested by chronic, recurrent symptoms and restrictions to work participation attributed to low-level indoor pollutants at workplace and whether the condition shares features with idiopathic environmental intolerance. Methods: We investigated 12 patients with indoor aire-related work disability. The examinations included somatic, psychological, and psychiatric evaluations as well as investigations of the autonomic nervous system, cortisol measurements, lung function, and allergy tests. We evaluated well-being, health, disability, insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, and burnout via questionnaires. Results: The mean symptom history was 10.5 years; for disabling symptoms, 2.7 years. Eleven patients reported reactions triggered mainly by indoor molds, one by fragrances only. Ten reported sensitivity to odorous chemicals, and three, electric devices. Nearly all had co-occurrent somatic and psychiatric diagnoses and signs of pain, insomnia, burnout, and/or elevated sympathetic responses. Avoiding certain environments had led to restrictions in several life areas. On self-assessment scales, disability showed higher severity and anxiety showed lower severity than in physician assessments. Conclusion: No medical cause was found to explain the disability. Findings support that the condition is a form of idiopathic environmental intolerance and belongs to functional somatic syndromes. Instead of endless avoidance, rehabilitation approaches of functional somatic syndromes are applicable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2014

This study assessed the risk and prevalence of anorexia as well as associated factors among home-dwelling elderly adults. The subjects were 419 elderly men (116) and women (303) aged 65 years and older ($76{\pm}5.6yr$) living in Korea. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation. The prevalence of anorexia was 35.1% among participants. Male elders (74.1%) had higher proportions of anorexia than female elders (20.1%) (P<0.001). Significant differences in the appetite were observed according to type of disease, depression, and activities of daily living (ADL) index. In the poor appetite group, central nervous system diseases were the primary illness in male elders (P<0.01), whereas endocrine diseases were the primary illness in female elders (P<0.01). Elders with good appetites had less symptoms of depression (P<0.001) and greater independence in ADL (P<0.001). These results explored the high prevalence of anorexia in geriatric populations in Korea and its impact on elderly nutritional status and health. Further research should be performed to identify the causes of anorexia and establish an intervention protocol allowing the early diagnosis of anorexia.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.163-171
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• 2022

This study was conducted to understand the research trends and central concepts of middle-aged women' health in Korea. For the analysis of this study, target papers published from 2012 to 2021 were collected by entering the keywords of 'middle-aged woman' or 'menopausal woman'. 1,116 papers were used for analysis. The co-occurrence network of key words was developed and analyzed, and the research trends were analyzed through topic modeling of the LSD by dividing it into five-year units (2012-2016, 2017-2021), and visualized word cloud and sociogram were used. The keywords that appeared the most during the last 10 years were obesity, depression, body composition, stress, and menopause symptom. Five topics analyzed in the thesis data for 5 years from 2012 to 2016 were 'postmenopausal self-efficacy and satisfaction enhancement strategy', 'exercise to manage obesity and risk factors', 'intervention for obesity and stress', 'promotion of happiness and life management' and 'menopausal depression and quality of life' were confirmed. Five topics of research conducted for the next five years (2017-2021) were 'menopausal depression and quality of life', 'management of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors', 'life experience as a middle-aged woman', and 'life satisfaction and psychological well-being' and 'menopausal symptom relief strategy'. Through the results, the trend of research topics related to middle-aged women's health over the past 10 years have been identified, and research on health of middle-aged women that reflects the trend of the future should be continued.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2004

Ethylene glycol poisoning can cause profound morbidity and is almost universally fatal if untreated. Central nervous system depression, pulmonary edema, and acute oligulic renal failure with crystalluria are among the most commonly encountered complication of ingestion. Ingestion of ethylene glycol may be an important contributor in patients with metabolic acidosis and subsequent renal failure. The diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning is based on nonspecific clinical symptoms and signs and indirect and direct laboratory measurement of ethylene glycol. As a result, diagnosis and treatment sometimes can be delayed. We describe 52-year-old man who visited to emergency department with mental change of unknown origin. The patient has high anion gap metabolic acidosis and renal failure due to ingestion of antifreeze that contained ethylene glycol. We used hemodialysis for elimination technique. The patient was discharged with minimal complication.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.688-695
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• 2010

Burning mouth disorders (sometimes referred to as burning mouth syndrome) are characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory findings. Affected patients often present with multiple oral complaints, including burning, dryness and taste alterations. Burning mouth complaints are reported more often in women, especially after menopause. Typically, patients awaken without pain, but report increasing symptoms through the day and into the evening. Conditions that have been reported in association with burning mouth syndrome include chronic anxiety or depression, various nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and changes in salivary function. However, these conditions have not been consistently linked with the syndrome, and their treatment has had little impact on burning mouth symptoms. Recent studies have pointed to dysfunction of several cranial nerves associated with taste sensation as a possible cause of burning mouth disorders. The most common central mechanism that likely explains burning mouth disorders is a centrally mediated continuous neuropathic pain. Given in low dosages, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants may be effective in patients with burning mouth disorders.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.145-160
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• 2008

Nelumbinis Semen(NS) has been used in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as depression and diarrhea. In inflammatory responses, microglia produces molecules which are known to play roles in the central nervous system. And we previously studied NS inhibited nitric oxide synthase and secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha. To explore the global gene expression profiles in BV-2 microglial cell line treated with NS, microarray analysis was performed. The cells were treated with LPS or NS plus LPS for 30min, Ih, 3h, and 6h, respectively. Of 45,101 known genes, with cutoff value of 3-fold change in the expression, 340, 644, 280 and 219 genes were upregulated and 503, 570, 694 and 484 were downregulated in NS treated cells at each time point. The results of the present study shows that treatment of NS reversed the LPS-induced upregulation of such genes as Ecoxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor(CAR), pellino 1, and S100P binding protein. It is thought that microarrays will play an ever-growing role in the advance of our understanding of the pharmacologic actions NS.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2003

This study is conducted to examine the solar radiation features of landscape in Eastern Mongolia and their space and time distribution characteristics. To many foreigners, the name Mongolia conjures up images of the vast steppes of Central Asia. And, indeed, the extensive grasslands of the steppe make up the heart of Mongolia-geographically and economically. Steppe covers nearly the entire far eastern part of Mongolia, extending west in a narrowing band just south of the Khangai and Khan Khokhii mountains all the way to the Depression of the Great lakes. Eastern Mongolia is recognized as one of the last remaining untouched grassland steppes in the world. Landscape of Eastern Mongolia divided by 19 types that belongs to High Mountain, Middle Mountain and low mountain steppe. Only 5.6% of the total land area is covered by forest. Eastern Mongolian steppe is homeland of migratory rare and endangered birds and about 2.0million freely migrating gazelles. According to Mongolian scientists, there is growing evidence of fundamental changes in the Eastern steppe ecosystems in terms of increasing aridity during the last 70 years. As estimated average annual temperature has increased by approximately 0.7oC, soil moisture, energy supply has been changing. These processes closely interrelated into water and energy cycle of steppe ecosystem.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 1965

Effects of intraventricular norepinephrine (NE) on rabbit blood pressure and heart rate were investigated. 1) Blood pressure was little affected by small doses of NE (below $500{\mu}g$) but showed marked rise by 1 mg. 2) Heart rate was decreased by intraventriccular NE $(200{\sim}500{\mu}g)$. One mg of NE caused less pronounced bradycardia than with smaller doses. The bradycardia could not be observed in vagotomized or atropinized animals. 3) Intraventricular NE potentiated reflexive bradycardia produced by 5-hydroxytryptamine. 4) Cord-sectioned rabbit showed different responses; the smaller doses $(100{\sim}200{\mu}g)$ produced transitory bradycardia and depression of blood pressure, which followed by tachycardia and pressure rise. The transitory bradycardia and depressor effects were not observed in cord-sectioned and vagotomized rabbit. 5) Treatment of animals with reserpine, guanethidine and hexamethonium changed the effects of intraventricular NE on blood pressure, i.e., in these cases the smaller doses of NE caused maked elevation of blood pressure. 6) From these observations it was inferred that central NE caused stimulation of cardioinhibitory and vasomotor center. The former seemed to be more sensitive to NE than the latter. Susceptibility of the vasomotor center to NE seemed to be influenced by peripheral sympathetic tone.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2002

Pollen analyses and $^{14}$ C dating of the sediments of the Akindonuma moor, which is situated in a closed depression of an old landslide, were peformed in order to study the vegetation history of the montane zone of the Miyagi Prefecture, Northeast Japan. The main results are as follows: Two forest zones have been distinguished: 1) the A-I zone, or the Fagus-Quercus-Betula forest (R I stage, before about 11,700 yrs B.P.), and 2) the A-II zone, or the Fagus-Quercus forest (R II stage, after about 11,700 yrs B.P.). By comparing the geological section with the pollen diagram of the moor, it is assumed that the deposit environment of the Middle Part, which mostly consists of peat layers, is very stable. During the period, the Ulmus/Zelfkova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized. According to the preceding research, theme is a close relationship between the fluctuation of the Ulmus/Zelkova pollen ratio and the general trend of hillslope instability in the changing balance of temporature and precipitation Actually, Zelkova serrata tends to cover the footslope and the lower sideslope. Ulmus davidiana covers the footslope and the alluvial cone. Therefore, the fact that the Ulmus/Zeikova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized, is believed to reflect the stability of the earth's surface environment, which was estimated from the geological section.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.911-921
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• 2008

Learning disabilities (LD) are heterogeneous group of disorders with evidences of genetic or familial trait, intrinsic to the individual and presume to be due to central nervous dysfunction. Learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the two of the most common disorders in the population of school-age children. Typically academic achievements in children with learning disabilities are significantly lower than expected by their normal or above normal range of IQ. Although academic and cognitive deficits are hallmarks of children with LD, those children are also at risk for a broad range of behavioral and emotional problems. Almost all cases meet criteria for at least one additional diagnosis such as ADHD, developmental coordination disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, tic disorder, among which ADHD is particularly predominant. Because of the response to the therapeutic intervention program is promising and positive when applied early, it is critical to recognize patients as early as possible. Pediatricians often are the first to hear from parents worried about a childs academic progress. It is not the responsibility of pediatrician to make a diagnosis, referring children for a diagnostic evaluation of LD is a reasonable first step. Pediatricians can make early referral of suspicious children by asking some serial short questions about basic and processing skills. With a basic knowledge about the clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of LD, pediatricians also can provide primary counseling and education for parents at their outpatient clinical settings.