• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effect of germinated Ilpum rough rice extract on blood glucose in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. The mice were divided into several groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), those fed with 0.25% germinated Ilpum rough rice extract (DM-0.25%GIRRE), those fed with 0.5% germinated Ilpum roughrice extract (DM-0.5%GIRRE) and those fed with 1% germinated Ilpum rough rice extract (DM-1%GIRRE). After 8 weeks of treatment, body weight, water intake, and diet intake of the DM-1%GIRRE group were significantly lower than the other DM groups. Blood glucose levels of the DM-1%GIRRE group were significantly lower compared to the DC group. Fasting blood glucose HbA1c level and total glucose tolerance test were significantly lower in the DM-1%GIRRE groups compared to the DC group. There was no significant difference in serum insulin level among each group. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that germinated Ilpum rough rice extract alleviates many of the symptoms of diabetes in genetically obese mice and may offer a possibility as a therapeutic supplement for the normalization of blood glucose levels in humans with hyperglycemia. It may also have beneficial effects in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.1781-1791
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• 2013

The present study was intended to measure the level of psychosocial stress and fatigue symptom according to the various characteristics such as sociodemographic, health-related, job-related, job stress factors, and psychosocial factors among nurses working at ward and operating room in university hospitals, and to reveal the relation between these factors and psychosocial stress and fatigue symptom. The self-administered questionnaires were given to 220 nurses working at ward, and 147 nurses working at operating room in 4 participating hospitals located in Daejeon City during the period from July 1st to Aug 31st, 2012. As a results, the factors related to the psychosocial stress of nurses working at ward were age, subjective health status, job career, satisfaction of work, fit to the job, job demand, job control, coworker support, self-esteem, locus of control, type A behavior pattern. In operating room, there were age, sleep hours, subjective health status, job career, physical burden of work, satisfaction of work, fit to the job, consider quitting the job, job demand, job control, type A behavior pattern. The factors related to the fatigue symptoms of nurses working at ward were age, leisure time, subjective health status, satisfaction of work, consider quitting the job, job demand, locus of control, type A behavior pattern. In operating room, there were age, subjective health status, physical burden of work, supervisor support, coworker support, locus of control. Based on the study results, we suggest that the factors related to psychosocial stress and fatigue symptom of nurses were different from working station. We need development and application of programs to keep under management psychosocial stress and fatigue symptom.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-26
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• 2017

This study investigated the cortical generators of P300 in college students with schizotypal traits by using an auditory oddball paradigm, event-related potentials (ERPs) and standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) model. We also investigated the relationship between the current density of P300 and the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia. Based on the scores of Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire(SPQ), schizotypal trait (n=37) and control (n=42) groups were selected. For the measurement of P300, an auditory oddball paradigm, in which frequent standard tones (1000Hz) and rare target tones (1500Hz) were presented randomly, was used. Participants were required to count the number of the target tones during the task and report this at the end of the experiment. The two groups did not differ significantly in the accuracy of the oddball task. The schizotypal trait group showed significantly smaller P300 amplitudes than control group. In terms of source localization, both groups showed the P300 current density over bilateral frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. However, the schizotypal trait group showed significantly reduced activations in the left superior temporal gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus, but increased activations in both left inferior frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus compared to the control group. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the current density of the right superior frontal gyrus and SPQ disorganization score was found in the schizotypal trait group. These findings indicate that the individuals with schizotypal traits have dysfunctions of frontal and temporal areas, which are known to be the source of P300, as observed in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, the present results indicate that the disorganization score, rather than total score, of the SPQ is useful in predicting the risk of future schizophrenia.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2011

Backgrounds: Sticking warm and hot herbs to acupoint in Dog-Days where the strongest Yangqi takes place, Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days is one of Oriental medical treatment to cure winter diseases in the summer. This treatment is widespread in China and Taiwan, and is becoming popular in South Korea nowadays. Objectives: The research has been conducted to evaluate the influencial factors and efficacy in Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days. Methods: We visited one kindergarten in Dog-Days of 2010, and attached pills which are made of Sinapis Semen(白芥子), Corydalis Tuber(玄胡索), Asari Herba Cum Radix(細辛), Juice of Zingiber Officinale(薑汁) to BL-13(肺兪), BL-15(心兪), BL-17(膈兪) of 56 children for 4-6 hours(34 boys, 22 girls, $52.64{\pm}16.85$ months, 19-78 months). Exacerbating effect or non-significant changes in respiratory symptoms before and after the treatment were ified.. The influentialfactors of efficacy were analyzed by Pearson's $x^2$-test and Fisher's exact test. In addition, the efficacy and satisfaction among once, twice, and three times treatment groups were verified by ANOVA. Results: 27 children (48.2%) were effective, but efficacy felt by parents is 45 cases (80.4%). Sex, perspiration, stool, urine, sleep, cold of hands and feet, cold sensitivity, and frequency of Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days has no relation to efficacy(p>0.05). However, the efficacy is poor in 1 and 2 age(p=0.030). Difference among efficacy of once, twice, and three times treatment groups is not significant(p=0.069), whereas there are linear association in frequency of Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days and efficacy(p=0.030). 36 parents (64.3%) are satisfied with Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days, and we observed significant difference among once, twice, three times treatment groups(p=0.041). 19 parents (33.9%) had been known about Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days, but 53 parents (94.6%) wanted repetition, and 41 parents (73.2%) intended to recommend it to acquaintance. Side effects are minor itching in two cases. Twenty seven participants showed positive effect, and forty five people (80.4%) felt beneficial. Sex, perspiration, stool, urine, sleep, cold hands and feet, sensitivity in cold, and frequency of Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days has no relation to the efficacy(p>0.05). Though the efficacy was poor in one and two year old infants, it was linearly correlated with the frequency count and responses from the treatment (p=0.030). Thirty six participants (64.3%) satisfied with the treatment, and so did the first, second, and third participant groups (p=0.041). Even though, only nineteen participants (33.9%) were familiar with Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days, fifty three participants (94.6%) preferred to repeat the treatment, and 41 parents were preferable to recommend the treatment to others. Side effects of minor itching has been reported in a couple cases. Conclusions: Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days is effective in children older than three year old. The effect would be greater when going through the treatment three times. Based on significant satisfaction, intention of repetition and recommendation, strong promotion on Dog-Days are needed to make a better use of Acupoint sticking in Dog-Days for the effective treatment.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2014

Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the physical properties of RGP lens induced by lens polishing on the actual wearer's subjective comfort, the tear film break-up time and the blinking rate as a follow-up study that revealed the relationship between the lens physical properties during lens manufacturing and lens wearer's factors. Methods: RGP lenses made from the three different polishing conditions (25, 50 and 100 seconds) were applied on 28 eyes of 17 subjects, aged 20 to 29 years, without any known disease and surgical history in the eyes. While the subjects were asked to wear the RGP lenses longer than a week, the questionnaire for the comfortability was administered everyday. Subjective and objective tear break-up time and blinking rate of the wearers were further measured. Results: The wearer's subjective comfortability showed some difference in the type of discomfort and satisfaction score according to the polishing status when wearing RGP lenses made from different polishing conditions longer than a week, and a bigger difference in satisfaction score induced by polishing condition was especially shown in experienced RGP lens wearer rather than un-experienced wearer. In the case of RGP lens wearer compared with the ones without the wearing experience, as the wearing time increased subjective and objective tear break-up time were increased and the blinking rate was decreased. However, subjective and objective tear break-up time were tended to decrease with even longer wearing time when wearing the RGP lens made from the polishment for 100 seconds. Conclusions: These results confirmed that the optimization of physical properties of the lens may not give the same effect on the wearer's subjective and objective symptoms and other factors when actual wearing. From the results, it can suggest that the success rate of RGP lens wear may be changed by physiological factors such as the stabilization of wearer's tear film, comfortability and lens wearing experience when wearing RGP lens based on 'The manufacturing standard for soft contact lens/hard contact lens' provided by Korea Food and Drug Administration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1577-1584
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• 2002

Purpose : Airway inflammation is considered to be a characteristic feature of asthma, and eosinophils are recognized as the most important inflammatory cells. This study aims to assess the importance of blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP) levels as a noninvasive marker of bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) in children with suspected asthma. Methods : This study used data from 87 subjects with asthma-like symptoms(6-18 years old). The $FEV_1$ and provocative concentration producing a 20% fall in $FEV_1(PC_{20})$ on methacholin inhalation challenge test were measured. Four groups were classified based on $PC_{20}$[Group I : <2 mg/mL; Group II : 2-8 mg/mL; Group III : 8-18 mg/mL; Group IV : (18 mg/mL], and blood eosinophil count and serum ECP levels were analyzed. In addition, subjects were classified based on the cutoff value of $PC_{20}$(BHR positive group : <18 mg/mL; BHR negative group : (18 mg/mL). Then blood eosinophil count and serum ECP level were compared between these two groups. Results : Likelihood ratio test for trends revealed a significant association between the blood eosinophil count or serum ECP level, and the degree of BHR as measured by methacholine $PC_{20}$. Blood eosinophil count or serum ECP level was significantly higher in the BHR(+) group than in the BHR(-) group. Blood eosinophil count had a positive correlation with serum ECP level. Conclusion : Blood eosinophil count and serum ECP level may be a useful non-invasive clinical marker of BHR in subjects with suspected asthma. This supports the hypothesis that BHR in asthma is a consequence of airway eosinophilic inflammation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1389-1396
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was done to analyze the changes in the clinical conditions and the diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Methods : We report a retrospective clinical analysis of 39 patients with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis from Jan. 1992 to Aug. 2001. The age and sex distribution, family and birth history, clinical symptoms, the ultrasonographic and the operative sizes of pyloric canals were compared. Results : The body weight was below the 3 percentile at admission in eight cases(20.5%). "Olive like mass" in right upper quadrant was palpated during physical examination in 23 cases(59%) and gastric peristaltic wave observed in six cases(15%). The ultrasonographic measurements showed that the pyloric muscle thickness to be $4.95{\pm}0.99mm$($mean{\pm}SD$), pyloric diameter $14.42{\pm}2.64mm$, and pyloric length $20.17{\pm}3.92mm$. Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy was employed in all cases. The operative measurements of the pyloric muscle thickness was $5.11{\pm}1.01mm$, pyloric diameter $15.01{\pm}2.47mm$, and pyloric length $22.32{\pm}3.43mm$. Conclusion : There was no significant difference between the ultrasonographic and operative measurements. Currently, the hypertrophic pyloric stenosis patients showed lesser clinical hallmarks of the disease. The earlier diagnosis using imaging studies before development of significant metabolic abnormalities is becoming an important factor that change the future outcomes of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1008-1012
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• 2003

Purpose : We aimed to ascertain whether lumbar punctures should be done to prove febrile seizure, and to study what conditions can delay or abolish lumbar puncture. Methods : This retrospective study was done for four years, from January, 1996 to December, 1999. The subjects were the patients who visited Masan Samsung Hospital for the first convulsion with fever, and whose age ranged from 1-month to 5-years old. The total number of patients was 197. We investigated the rate of meningitis, which was classified by age, season, convulsion type, associated symptoms, and results of blood test. All data were tested chi-square. Results : The diagnosis rate of meningitis among all 197 patients was 7.6%, and of these only one patient was proved to have bacterial meningitis. The rate was high in the young(below 6 month), in males and in summer and autumn. Although the general appearance was good after resolution of the fever, the rate of meningitis was 6.5%. Patients with nausea and vomiting totalled 11%; 9.1% of them were diagnosed with meningitis. The diagnosis rate of meningitis in cases in which additional seizures took place were 33.3%. Conclusion : The ultimate goal of lumbar punctures in seizure patients with accompanying fever is to rule out bacterial meningitis, which, has been demonstrated to be rare. So we think that lumbar puncture can be postponed by close observation of pediatrics specialists and skilled nurses.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1013-1018
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• 2003

Purpose : Bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) in asthma is thought to be a consequence of underlying airway inflammation. But the mechanism responsible for persistent BHR in adolescents with long-term asthma remission is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether BHR in adolescents with asthma remission is associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and/or increased serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP). Methods : We studied 35 adolescents with long-term asthma remission(neither symptoms nor medication during the previous two years) who have persistent BHR(remission group) and 35 adolescents with symptomatic asthma(symptomatic group) who were matched for methacholine provocative concentration producing a 20% fall in $FEV_1(PC_{20})$ with subjects in the remission group. The peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP concentrations were compared between these two groups. Correlations between $PC_{20}$ and peripheral blood eosinophil counts or serum ECP concentrations were assessed in these two groups. Results : Peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP concentrations were significantly lower in the remission group than in the symptomatic group($273{\pm}108$ vs. $365{\pm}178/{\mu}L$; $16.3{\pm}9.4$ vs. $26.5{\pm}15.1{\mu}g/L$, both, P<0.05). $PC_{20}$ was correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum ECP concentrations in the symptomatic group(r=-0.385, P=0.022; r=-0.439, P=0.008), but not in the remission group(r=-0.292, P=0.089; r=-0.243, P=0.159). Conclusion : BHR in adolescents with long-term asthma remission is not associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia or an increase in serum ECP concentration, which suggests that BHR in this clinical setting may not be attributed to airway eosinophilic inflammation. Further studies including direct assessment of airway inflammation are needed to confirm this conclusion.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.519-524
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• 2010

Purpose : To determine the efficacy of the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as a useful diagnostic method in children with incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods : Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed as having KD between January 2008 and June 2009 were enrolled in the study. American Heart Association recommendations for diagnosis were used, and patients were divided into the complete KD and incomplete KD groups. Blood tests including NT-proBNP were performed on admission day. Nineteen patients who had other febrile diseases other than KD were enrolled as control. Results : Thirty-three patients (34%) had incomplete KD. Change in the lips and oral cavity and conjunctivitis were the most common clinical features, but their frequency was lower than complete KD (76% vs 98%, 76% vs 90%). Patients with incomplete KD exhibited significantly higher NT-proBNP level than that of control ($1,407.7{\pm}1633.5pg/mL$ vs $126.2{\pm}135.5pg/mL$, $P$<0.001). An NT-proBNP cutoff value of 158 pg/mL provided a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 74% for diagnosis of incomplete KD. Conclusion : NT-proBNP assay can be clinically useful for the diagnosis of incomplete KD, if the patient has persistent fever, change in the lips and oral cavity, and conjunctivitis, and if the patient with those symptoms is suspected to have incomplete KD.