• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.327-333
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complications of diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, are associated with increased mortality among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Homocysteine has been recently identified as a predictor of cardiovascular disease-related complications in diabetes. We investigated whether or not supplementation with folic acid tablets can lower homocysteine levels and improve parameters related with vascular complications. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized 8-week trial involving postmenopausal diabetic women (n = 25) supplemented with $800{\mu}g$ of folic acid ($400{\mu}g$ twice a day) daily. Subjects' serum levels of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin $B_{12}$ were measured, along with vascular function and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. RESULTS: Folic acid supplementation significantly increased serum folate levels (P < 0.0001), reduced homocysteine levels (P < 0.0001), and increased vitamin $B_{12}$ levels (P = 0.0063). There were significant decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as the ratios of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocities were not altered by supplementation. Changes in serum vitamin $B_{12}$ after folic acid supplementation were negatively correlated with changes in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study on postmenopausal Korean women with type 2 diabetes mellitus, folic acid supplementation reduced serum homocysteine levels, increased serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ levels, and lowered lipid parameters.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.374-379
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to evaluate associations between the ratio of serum estrone (E1) to estradiol (E2) and parameters related to serum glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: In total, 133 women between the ages of 18 and 35 diagnosed with PCOS were enrolled in this study. All participants with PCOS underwent blood tests to determine hormonal and biochemical metabolic parameters and a standard 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. They were divided into two groups according to the serum E1-to-E2 ratio: group 1 (E1/E2 ratio <2.0) and group 2 (E1/E2 ratio ≥2.0). Results: In the comparative analysis, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was the only clinical variable that was significantly different between the two groups. Patients with a higher E1/E2 ratio showed higher fasting insulin levels, homeostasis model for insulin resistance, and postprandial glucose level at 2 hours (PPG2). In a correlation analysis, only PPG2 was significantly related to the serum E1/E2 ratio. However, after controlling for the confounding effects of body mass index (BMI) and WHR, fasting glucose was also significantly correlated with the serum E1/E2 ratio. Conclusion: Women with PCOS with a higher serum E1/E2 ratio were found to be more likely to show higher fasting insulin and postprandial glucose levels. Significant correlations were found between the serum E1/E2 ratio and both fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels after adjusting for BMI and WHR in women with PCOS.

• 한국지반신소재학회논문집
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

지진 시 댐에 여유고 이상의 과도한 침하가 발생하는 경우 댐의 붕괴로 이어질 수 있다. 댐의 침하는 댐의 손상 예측에 중요한 지표로 사용되는 횡균열 폭과 깊이에 높은 상관성을 가진 것으로 알려져 있으므로 댐의 손상 평가에서 정확한 침하량 예측이 중요하다. 국내에서는 국외에서 수치해석을 통하여 도출된 경험적인 식이 댐의 손상 평가에 널리 사용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 필댐으로 분류되는 콘크리트 표면차수벽 석괴댐(CFRD)과 코어형 석괴댐(ECRD) 대표 단면에 대한 2차원 비선형 동적 해석을 수행하여 댐마루의 침하량을 계산하였다. 입력지진파의 지진강도와 지진규모 등의 영향을 복합적으로 고려하기 위하여 20개의 계측기록을 해석에 사용하였다. 수치해석으로 계산된 결과를 바탕으로 댐마루 침하량을 예측하기 위해 지진파의 최대지반가속도, 최대지반속도, Arias Intensity, 지진규모와의 상관관계를 도출하였다. 평가 결과, 최대지반가속도에 추가적인 변수를 사용할 경우, 상관성이 크게 향상되는 것으로 나타났다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권7호
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• pp.930-938
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• 2019

Objective: Estimate genetic parameters, the rate of inbreeding, and the effect of inbreeding on growth and egg production traits of a Thai native chicken breed Lueng Hang Kao Kabinburi housed under intensive management under a tropical climate. Methods: Genetic parameters were estimated for weight measured at four weekly intervals from body weight at day 1 (BW1D) to body weight at 24 weeks (BW24) of age, as well as weight at first egg, age at first egg (AFE), egg weight at first egg, and total number of eggs (EN) produced during the first 17 weeks of lay using restricted maximum likelihood. Inbreeding depression was estimated using a linear regression of individual phenotype on inbreeding coefficient. Results: Direct additive genetic effect was significant for all traits. Maternal genetic effect and permanent environmental hen effects were significant for all early growth traits, expect for BW24. For BW24, maternal genetic effect was also significant. Permanent environmental hen effect was significant for AFE. Direct heritabilities ranged from 0.10 to 0.47 for growth traits and ranged from 0.15 to 0.16 for egg production traits. Early growth traits had high genetic correlations between them. The EN was lowly negatively correlated with other traits. The average rate of inbreeding for the population was 0.09% per year. Overall, the inbreeding had no effect on body weight traits, except for BW1D. An increase in inbreeding coefficient by 1% reduced BWID by 0.09 g (0.29% of the mean). Conclusion: Improvement in body weight gain can be achieved by selecting for early growth traits. Selection for higher body weight traits is expected to increase the weight of first egg. Due to low but unfavorable correlations with body weight traits, selection on EN needs to be combined with other traits via multi-trait index selection to improve body weight and EN simultaneously.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.93-100
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• 2021

Purpose: (1) To evaluate the trabecular pattern at the femoral attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in patients with a PCL injury; (2) to analyze bone microarchitecture by applying gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM)-based texture analysis; and (3) to determine if there is a significant relationship between bone microarchitecture and posterior instability. Materials and Methods: The study included 96 patients with PCL tears. Trabecular patterns were evaluated on T2-weighted MRI qualitatively, and were evaluated by GLCM texture analysis quantitatively. The grades of posterior drawer test (PDT) and the degrees of posterior displacement on stress radiographs were recorded. The 96 patients were classified into two groups: acute and chronic injury. And 27 patients with no PCL injury were enrolled for control. Pearson's correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni test were conducted for statistical analyses. This protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results: A thick and anisotropic trabecular bone pattern was apparent in normal or acute injury (n = 57/61;93.4%), but was not prominent in chronic injury and posterior instability (n = 31/35;88.6%). Grades of PDT and degrees of posterior displacement on stress radiograph were not correlated with texture parameters. However, the texture analysis parameters of chronic injury were significantly different from those of acute injury and control groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The trabecular pattern and texture analysis parameters are useful in predicting posterior instability in patients with PCL injury. Evaluation of the bone microarchitecture resulting from altered biomechanics could advance the understanding of PCL function and improve the detection of PCL injury.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: We aimed to measure the head dimensions on computed tomography (CT) images, to compare them to directly measured head dimensions, and to predict a new parameter of bone thickness for aiding bone conduction implant (BCI) placement. Subjects and Methods: We reviewed the facial and mandibular bone CT images of 406 patients. Their head sizes were analyzed using five parameters included in the 6th Size Korea project, and they were divided into age groups (ranging from the 10s to the 80s). We compared the head length, head width, sagittal arc, bitragion arc, and head circumference in the CT and Size Korea groups. We also added the parameter bone thickness for aiding BCI placement. Results: All the head size parameters measured using CT were significantly smaller than those measured directly, with head length showing the smallest difference at 7.85 mm. The differences in the other four parameters between the two groups according to patient age were not statistically significantly different. Bone thickness had the highest value of 4.89±0.93 mm in the 70s and the lowest value of 4.10±0.99 mm in the 10s. Bone thickness also significantly correlated with head width (p=0.038). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that the CT and direct measurements yielded consistent data. Moreover, CT enabled the measurement of bone sizes, including bone thickness, that are impossible to measure directly. CT measurements may complement direct measurements in the Size Korea data when used for developing bone conduction hearing devices (BCIs and headsets) for the Korean population.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: We aimed to measure the head dimensions on computed tomography (CT) images, to compare them to directly measured head dimensions, and to predict a new parameter of bone thickness for aiding bone conduction implant (BCI) placement. Subjects and Methods: We reviewed the facial and mandibular bone CT images of 406 patients. Their head sizes were analyzed using five parameters included in the 6th Size Korea project, and they were divided into age groups (ranging from the 10s to the 80s). We compared the head length, head width, sagittal arc, bitragion arc, and head circumference in the CT and Size Korea groups. We also added the parameter bone thickness for aiding BCI placement. Results: All the head size parameters measured using CT were significantly smaller than those measured directly, with head length showing the smallest difference at 7.85 mm. The differences in the other four parameters between the two groups according to patient age were not statistically significantly different. Bone thickness had the highest value of 4.89±0.93 mm in the 70s and the lowest value of 4.10±0.99 mm in the 10s. Bone thickness also significantly correlated with head width (p=0.038). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that the CT and direct measurements yielded consistent data. Moreover, CT enabled the measurement of bone sizes, including bone thickness, that are impossible to measure directly. CT measurements may complement direct measurements in the Size Korea data when used for developing bone conduction hearing devices (BCIs and headsets) for the Korean population.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.277-284
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• 2022

Objective: Oxidative stress is a key player in the development of idiopathic male infertility (IMI), and various antioxidants have been used for the treatment of IMI with inconsistent results. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a cofactor and an antioxidant that may improve semen parameters and reduce oxidative stress in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of CoQ10 on semen parameters and antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic OA. Methods: Fifty patients with idiopathic OA and 35 fertile controls were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. All participants underwent a comprehensive fertility assessment. All patients received CoQ10 (300 mg/day) orally once daily for 3 months. Semen parameters, seminal CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in patients and controls at the start of the study and after 3 months. Results: Treatment with CoQ10 resulted in increased sperm progressive motility (p<0.05), total motility (p<0.01), seminal TAC (p<0.01), SOD (p<0.05), GPx (p<0.001), and seminal CoQ10 (p<0.001) levels and reduced ROS (p<0.01) in patients as compared to baseline. Sperm concentration and motility were also significantly correlated with antioxidant measures and seminal CoQ10 levels (r=0.38-0.57). Conclusion: CoQ10 therapy (300 mg/day for 3 months) improved sperm motility and seminal antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic OA. Therefore, CoQ10 could be a promising treatment for patients with idiopathic infertility and may improve their fertility potential.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.85-95
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• 2024

Purpose: Developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1) plays a role in regulating neutrophil migration within the periodontium. The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of DEL-1 in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), as well as the number of neutrophils in patients with periodontitis. Methods: Forty systemically healthy, non-smoking periodontitis patients participated in this study. Clinical periodontal parameters, including the plaque index, probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, modified sulcular bleeding index, and marginal bone level, were measured. Levels of DEL-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in unstimulated saliva samples, as well as DEL-1 in the GCF of 3 teeth from each participant, were assessed. Neutrophil counts in oral rinse and GCF samples were recorded. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine the correlation between protein levels, clinical parameters, and neutrophil quantities. Participants were divided into 2 age groups (those under 50 years and those 50 years or older) in order to investigate potential age-related differences. Results: DEL-1 levels in the GCF showed a negative relationship with PPD (sum). Neutrophils in oral rinse samples were positively correlated with PPD, IL-8, and IL-1β levels. Neutrophils in GCF exhibited a positive correlation with PPD (sum). Salivary DEL-1 levels showed correlations with IL-8 and IL-1β, but not with the clinical parameters of periodontitis. Conclusions: The negative relationship observed between PPD and GCF DEL-1 levels is consistent with the proposed protective role of DEL-1.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.415-425
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• 2001

배 경 : 폐기종의 중증도 판정에 있어서 병리학적 기준은 기강(air space)의 확장 정도에 있으며, 이는 고해상도 전산화 촬영 (high resolution computed tomography, HRCT)에 의해 결정되는 폐기종 점수(emphysema scoring)와 좋은 상관성을 보인다는 것은 주지의 사실이다. 한편 폐기종의 주증상은 운동성 호흡곤란이므로 폐기종에 대한 임상적 평가는 운동능력의 감소를 측정하는 것이 타당하다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 대개의 경우 폐기종의 중증도 판정은 안정시 폐기능 검사에 의존하는 경우가 흔하며, 병리학적 중증도 판정과 상관성이 높다고 알려져 있는 고해상도 전산화 촬영에 의한 폐기종 점수와 운동부하 폐기능검사 지표들과의 상관성 여부에 대한 연구는 드문 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 폐기종의 중증도 판정에 있어서 HRCT와 안정시 폐기능 검사 및 운동부하 폐기능 검사간에 상호 관련성을 확인하여 보았다. 방 법 : 평균 연령 $60.6{\pm}10.3$세인 14명의 폐기종 환자들을 대상으로 HRCT, 안정시 폐기능 검사(forced expiratory flow volume curve, lung volumes by He dilution method, DLco, ABGA), 그리고 점진적운동부하폐 기능검사(incremental cycle ergometer)를 시행하였으며 HRCT는 GE highlight를 이용하여 조영증강 없이 최대흡기시에 1.5mm collimation, 10mm 간격으로 폐전체를 스캔하였고, 환자마다 모든 스캔에서 density mask를 이용하여 -400 HU를 기준으로 한 총폐면적과 -900 HU를 기준으로 한 폐기종 면적을 각각 구하여 백분율로 환산하여 폐기종 점수를 구하였다. 결 과 : 평균 폐기종 점수는 $37.4{\pm}14.9%$ 이었다. 폐기종 점수와 안정시 폐기능 검사의 DLco(r=-0.75)와 $PaO_2$(r=-0.66) 사이에서만 유의한(p<0.05) 상관성이 관찰되었다. 반면 폐기종 점수와 운동부하폐기능 지표들간의 상관성은 최대 산소섭취량(r=-0.68), 혐기성 역치(V-slope method, r=-0.690), 최대운동부하(r=-0.74), 최대운동시 $O_2$ pulse(r=-0.73), 최대운동시의 생리적 사강비율 (r=0.80) 등과 높은 유의성 (p<0.01)을 나타내었다. 그러나 호흡예비율과 심박수 예비율간에서는 유의한 상관성이 없었고, pulse oxymeter로 측정한 산소포화도와의 상관성도 유의하지 않았다. 결 론 : 이상의 결과에서 폐기종의 병리학적 중증도를 잘반영한다고 알려진 HRCT 폐기종 접수는 폐기종에 의한 생리학적 장애를 잘 반영하는 운동부하 폐기능 검사의 주요 지표들과 유의한 상관성이 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.