• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.407-413
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• 2007

Background: The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level has been reported in some studies to be associated with the occurrence of atrial fbrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential usefulness of the BNP level as a predictor of the occurrence of postoperative (postop) AF and to assess the relationship of the BNP level with the onset of AF and the restoration of sinus rhythm. Material and Method: From January 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006, 82 patients without a history of atrial arrhythmia that had undergone cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Blood samples for plasma BNP were drawn daily for all these patients from the preoperative (preop) day to the 7th postop day. The patient records were reviewed and postop EKGs were checked daily for AF until the time of discharge. Result: Patients were divided into two groups based on development of postop AF. Postoperative AF developed in 26 patients (31.7%). There was no significant statistical difference in age, sex distribution, preop left ventricle ejection fraction, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, or the use of beta blockers between the non-postop AF and postop AF group. More patients in the AF group had undergone valve surgery (39.3% versus 76.9%, p=0.002). The preop left atrium size was significantly larger in the AF patients ($43.8{\pm}10.3 mm$ versus $49.8{\pm}11.5 mm$, p=0.029). The preop plasma BNP levels were higher in the postop AF patients ($144.1{\pm}20.8 pg/mL$ versus $267.5{\pm}68 pg/mL$, p=0.034). In the postop AF group, the plasma BNP level was the highest on the 3rd postop day. Postop AF developed in most patients by the 3rd postop day; restored sinus rhythm developed by the 7th postop day. Conclusion: Elevated plasma BNP levels may lead to the occurrence of postop AF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients who have a high risk of postop AF should be considered for aggressive prophylactic antiarrhythmic therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.10 no.1_2 s.11
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• pp.10-17
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• 2004

The Doowoo-ri tidal flat in the southwestern Korean coast is a typical open-coast tidal flat which has no barriers in the offshore such as barrier island and sand bars. The difference of induced wave energy with seasons is affected directly on the distribution of surface sediment and the formation of sedimentary structures because the sedimentation by wind wave is relatively much important element in this open-coast tidal flat. This open-coast tidal flat can be classified into tidal beach, intertidal flat and lower mudflat according to the pattern of geomorphology and sediment type. The intertidal flat can be again divided into 3 types: sand flat, mixed flat and mud flat based on the primary sedimentary structure and sand/mud ratio. Doowoori tidal flat shows a seasonal change in the surface sedimentary facies based on sediment composition and primary sedimentary structure. The change is closely related to the direction and magnitude of monsoon wind and also to storm frequency. In winter and spring, when northwesterly wind is most dominant and strong and also storms are common, sand-flat facies is largely distributed on the intertidal flat, whereas mud-flat facies is most dominant during summer when weak southeasterly wind is common. In the fall season, mixed-flat facies is dominant on the flat. The Doowoori intertidal flat is covered by mud sediment which is ca. 20 cm in thickness in summer season. In winter season, surface sediment is changed from mud to sand because the summer mud is mostly eroded by strong wave action. Can-core peels in the intertidal flat show that parallel laminated mud or sand/mud and climbing ripple cross-laminated sandy silt are dominant on the upper intertidal flat $(0-1.3 {\cal}km)$ during summer season. On the other hand, on lower intertidal flat $(1.7-2.3 {\cal}km)$, dominant sedimentary facies is homogeneous mud. In winter, it is changed into parallel laminated and ripple cross-laminated sand facies.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.405-412
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• 1999

Purpose: It is important to evaluate the healing process of avascular necrosis (AVN) involving femoral head after treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of pinhole bone scintigraphy in the AVN of femoral head after surgery. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the changing pattern of pinhole bone scintigram in 21 femoral heads of 16 patients (14 lesions/11 male, 7 lesions/5 female, mean age: 39.4 yrs) before and after multiple drilling or vascularized bone grafting for AVN of the femoral head. In all patients, pre-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months before treatment and the first post-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months after treatment. All patients were followed for 2 to 4 years after operation. Results: The findings of the pinhole scintigrams were divided into three patterns: 1) curvilinear, 2) scattered spotty and 3) undetermined. The 10 of 11 lesions with curvilinear pattern had good postoperative clinical and radiological follow-up findings. However, all 6 lesions with scattered spotty pattern showed poor postoperative findings, which necessitated total hip joint replacement. Of the 4 lesions with undetermined pattern, 2 required total hip joint replacement. There was significant difference in postoperative prognosis between the curvilinear and scattered spotty patterns (p<0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the pattern of pinhole bone scintigram obtained within 1 to 3 months after multiple drilling or vascularized bone graft operation is a useful prognostic indicator in the AVN of femoral head.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.565-572
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the effect of high pressure sodium lamp lighting (HPS) on dynamics of growth and dry matter partitioning, and light use efficiency of sweet pepper crop grown over winter season. Young sweet pepper seedlings were planted at 3.75 plants per $m^2$ on September 29, 2010 and treated with HPS for 16 hours from December 14, 2010 until March 18, 2011. The number of leaves per plant were significantly increased with HPS, whereas the number of internodes and leaf area were less affected. HPS reduced the plant height with higher number of fruits per stem compared to those of without HPS lighting (CON). There were large differences in total dry mass production, stem and fruit dry mass between HPS and CON and those with HPS increased by 67.8%, 28.5%, and 97.1% compared to CON, respectively. Each organs of dry mass partitioning was calculated by leaf, stem or fruit growth rate divided by total plant growth rate. Dynamics of dry mass partitioning to leaf and stem between HPC and CON was measured in range of 45-47% at beginning of growth phase and drastically decreased after starting fruit growth in both treatments. Dry matter partitioning to vegetative organs was 4% higher compared to the plant grown under HPS lighting. Averaged dry matter partitioning to fruit with HPS, however, was largely increased by 14.2% compared to CON. Dynamics of the plant growth were well described by expolinear growth equation with three parameters of maximum relative growth rate, absolute growth rate and lost time to reach linear phase. The maximum growth rate of leaf, stem and fruit with HPS was increased by 18.6%, 74.7%, and 143.5% compared to CON. There was a linear relationship between intercepted light integral and vegetative organs (leaf and stem), fruit or total dry mass production. Light use efficiency (LUE, $g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$) of total dry mass was $4.90g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for HPS and $3.84g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for CON, LUE of vegetative organs was $1.56g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for HPS and $1.61g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for CON and LUE of fruit dry mass was $3.34g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for HPS and $2.23g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ for CON. The difference in LUE of total dry mass between treatments, therefore, occurred mainly from the different in LUE of fruit dry mass.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different pregnancy stages on the eating and ruminating behavior of Hanwoo heifers (Bos taurus coreanae). A total of twelve Hanwoo heifers were divided into four groups depending on pregnancy stage: C: before pregnancy, 9 months old, T1: 3 months pregnant, 16 months old, T2: 6 months pregnant, 19 months old, T3: 9 months pregnant, 22 months old (3 replicates per group). Concentrate of 1% of the body weight was fed to them. Roughage was provided at ad libitum to all treatments. Our results revealed that the intake of roughage was the highest in the T3 group (at 3.68 kg) and the lowest in the C group (at 1.02 kg, p<0.05). Total intake in the order from high to low was: T3 > T2 > T1 > C (p<0.05). The rate of dry matter intake compared to body weight (DMI/BW, %) from high to low order was: T3 > T2 > T1 > C (p<0.05). Eating time, ruminating time, and chewing time were the highest in T3 group (p<0.05). Resting time was the highest in C group (p<0.05). The number of bolus and the number of total chews were significantly higher in T3 compared to those in other groups. However, ruminating time per bolus was not significantly difference among groups. The number of chews per bolus from high to low order was: C > T1 > T3 > T2 (p<0.05). The number of bolus per minute was not significantly different among groups. The number of drinking and the number of defecating were significantly higher in C and T1, respectively (p<0.05). However, the number of urinating had no effect according to pregnancy stage. Eating rate and chewing efficiency were significantly higher (p<0.05) in accordance with pregnancy stage (T3 > T2 > T1 > C). Ruminating efficiency was significantly (p<0.05) higher T1 than that in other groups.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate effects of different levels of seleniferous whole crop barley (WCB) supplementation on performance, and blood characteristics as physiological responses in growing pigs. A total of 20 cross-bred pigs ((Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc) were divided into 4 treatments of 5 pigs each and experimental period lasted for 6 weeks. They were fed diets containing 0.1 (non-seleniferous WCB as controls), 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/kg levels of selenium (Se) by supplementing seleniferous WCB, and non-seleniferous or seleniferous WCB was formulated to 5% level in total ration. The diets were isonitrogenous (18% crude protein) and isocaloric (3,500 kcal/kg digestible energy) across treatments. Increasing levels of seleniferous WCB supplements did not affect feed intake and BW gain, and blood total protein concentration was (p<0.05) significantly higher for 0.2 mg/kg Se treatments than for controls. On d 14, blood albumin concentration was higher (p<0.05) for seleniferous WCB supplemented groups than for control group. Contrarily, blood glucose concentration was tended to be higher for controls than for seleniferous WCB groups. Blood total lipid concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lowered with increasing levels of seleniferous WCB. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase did not have any difference among treatments. It was tended that blood total cholesterol and triglyceride were lowered with increasing levels of seleniferous WCB. Blood Se concentration was significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of seleniferous WCB. The results indicate that Se present in seleniferous WCB had favorable effects on blood characteristics and blood Se increased by supplementing seleniferous WCB implies not only a good intestinal absorption of Se present in WCB but also the possibility of Se transfer into tissues.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.59-70
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• 2004

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted on 63 subjects to determine the antihypertensive effect of a vegetable drink in which sardine protein hydrolysates containing a dipeptide, Valyl-Tyrosine (VY), were incorporated. The subjects, consisting of people with mild hypertension, high-normal blood pressure and normal blood pressure, were randomly divided into test (male/female=25.6, average age 50.1${\pm}$10.4 years old) and control groups (26/6, 49.0${\pm}$5.0). Each subjects in the test group was given 195g of the vegetable drink containing 0.5g of sardine peptides (sardine protein hydrolysates) with 0.4 mg of VY (test drink) once a day for 13 weeks in a row, and subjects in the control group were given the same amount of the vegetable drink without sardine peptides (control drink) in the same manner. In the test group, 40 subjects with mild hypertension of high-normal blood pressure (130 mmHg${\leq}$systolic blood pressure (SBP)<160 mmHg and/or 80 mmHg${\leq}$diastolic blood the start of the test to 134.4${\pm}$11.1 mmHg during the first week of the test period, after which similar values were seen throughout the test period (13 weeks). Compared to the control group, the difference in SBP from vaseline was statistically significant in the test group throughout the intake period. DBP also decreased significantly from 88.0${\pm}$7.9 mmHg at baseline to 83.5${\pm}$8.6 mmHg after 13 weeks. In the control group, SBP and DBP were 140.8${\pm}$8.4 mmHg and 90.5${\pm}$6.6 mmHg respectively at the start of the test, and neither decreased during the test period. In subjects with normal blood pressure, neither those in the test group nor those in the control group showed a significant change in SBP and DBP during the test period. An excessive ingestion test was performed on 25 subjects with hypertension, mild hypertension, high-normal blood pressure, and normal blood pressure by giving 585g (3 times the recommended amount of intake) of the test drink for 14 days in a row. As a result, a significant decrease of blood pressure was observed in the hypertension, mild hypertension and high-normal blood pressure groups, but no excessive decline in blood pressure or any side-effects were associated with any subjects during the test period. In the groups with normal blood pressure, the excessive ingestion of the test drink did not affect blood pressure. In these two studies, physical check-ups and biochemical analyses of blood and urine were also conducted in all subjects, and no abnormalities were observed. These results suggest that the test drink containing sardine protein hydrolysates exhibited the antihypertensive effect in only the subjects with mild hypertension or high-normal blood pressure. No adverse effects were observed in either hypertensive of normotensive subjects.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.410-418
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• 2010

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens that can cause staphylococcal infection and food poisoning. In this study, we compared conventional culture methods and real-time PCR for detection of S. aureus in artificially inoculated milk, sausage, raw pork, and vegetable salad. The performance of a coagulase test for confirming S. aureus was also compared with a colony PCR test. Bulk food samples (500 g each) were artificially inoculated with S. aureus and divided into 20 samples (25 g or mL each). All samples were added to tryptic soy broth (225 mL/sample) with 10% NaCl and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. After the enrichment, broth cultures were streaked onto Baird-Parker (BP) agar with egg yolk tellulite, and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. In addition, 1 mL of broth cultures was collected to perform real-time PCR. Two suspicious colonies from the BP agar were picked up and plated on nutrient agar and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h followed, by a coagulase confirmation test and a colony PCR analysis. There were no statistical differences between culture methods and realtime PCR in food samples with low background microflora, such as milk and sausage. However, a significant statistical difference was found between the culture methods and real-time PCR for raw pork and vegetable salad. Furthermore, the colony PCR test of the presumptive colonies on BP agar for confirming S. aureus is more accurate and efficient than the coagulase test for unprocessed foods.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.883-890
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• 2001

Objectives : An in vitro biomechanical study of posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) with threaded cage using two different approaches was performed on eighteen functional spinal units of bovine lumbar spines. The purpose of this study was to compare the segmental stiffnesses among PLIF with one long posterolateral cage, PLIF with one long posterolateral cage and simultaneous facet joint fixation, and PLIF with two posterior cages. Methods : Eighteen bovine lumbar functional spinal units were divided into three groups. All specimens were tested intact and with cage insertion. Group 1(n=12) had a long threaded cage($15{\times}36mm$) inserted posterolaterally and oriented counter anterolaterally on the left side by posterior approach with left unilateral facetectomy. Group 2(n=6) had two regular length cages($15{\times}24mm$) inserted posteriorly with bilateral facetectomy. Six specimens from group 1 were then retested after unilateral facet joint screw fixation in neutral(group 3). Likewise, the other six specimens from group 1 were retested after fixation with a facet joint screw in an extended position(group 4). Nondestructive tests were performed in pure compression, flexion, extension, lateral bending, and torsion. Results : PLIF with a single cage, group 1, had a significantly higher stiffnesses than PLIF with two cages, group 2, in left and right torsion(p<0.05). Group 1 showed higher stiffness values than group 2 in pure compression, flexion, left and right bending but were not significantly different. Group 3 showed a significant increase in stiffness in comparison to group 1 for pure compression, extension, left bending and right torsion(p<0.05). For group 4, the stiffness significantly increased in comparison to group 1 for extension, flexion and right torsion(p<0.05). Although there was no significant difference between groups 3 and 4, group 4 had increased stiffness in extension, flexion, right bending and torsion. Conclusion : Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with a single long threaded cage inserted posterolaterally with unilateral facetectomy enables sufficient decompression while maintaining a majority of the posterior elements. In combination with a facet joint screw fixation, adequate postoperative stability can be achieved. We suggest that posterolateral insertion of a long threaded cage is biomechanically an ideal alternative to PLIF.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2012

This study aims to investigate the nutritional status of night eaters using the data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 3,903 subjects aged 20 and above were divided into 3 groups by using 24-hr recall data according to the night snack calorie intake: non-night snack, night snack less than 500 kcal and 500 kcal and more. Their data were analyzed to find out the difference on the socio-demographic, anthropometric, blood pressure, blood parameters and dietary characteristics. Among the subjects, non-night eaters were 66.0%, night eaters of less than 500 kcal were 28.4% and 500 kcal and above were 5.6%. Male adults, young-aged, higher educated, higher income earner, breakfast skipper and frequent dine-outer (3 times and more a day) were found more in the night eaters with 500 kcal and above. Night eaters above 500 kcal showed higher waist circumference, Glu-FBS, Glu-PP120 and also showed higher daily intake of fat and alcohol per 1,000 kcal and food groups of meat & eggs, beverages and alcohol drinks (p < 0.05), while they showed the lowest carbohydrate energy ratio of $58.3{\pm}13.7$ among the three groups. These results suggest that habitual night snack intake above 500 kcal could lead to abdominal obesity and diabetes due to higher intake of meat, fat and alcohol.