• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

The effect of different turnover time of water on the decomposition of emergent macrophyte litter (Zizania latifolia Griseb.) was investigated using a microcosm experiment. Microcosm treatment represented different turnover time of water; 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The litterbags from each treatment were retrieved every 2 weeks until the 8th week and the water simultaneously sampled with the litterbag. The dry weight and the content of major cations in the litter, and the content of available N, P, and major cations in the water were analyzed. Dry weight loss after 8 weeks indicated the lower decay rates under the condition of short turnover time of water. Major cations from the litter and the water showed that the leached amounts of K and Mg from the litter were highest in the 2nd week and dramatically decreased from the 4th week. The dynamics of available nitrogen and phosphorus in the water showed that as the water turnover time was getting longer, the amounts of available nitrogen and phosphorus remained higher. These results suggest that wetlands with longer turnover time of water could maintain the increased nitrogen and phosphorus and no outflow of the nutrients could cause eutrophication problem.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.436-443
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• 2007

Purpose: An exploratory study was done to examine the validity of the new Ballard scale with extended scoring system(eNBS) in estimating gestational age(AG) in full-term newborns. Method: The eNBS scoring system was extended to include all numbers of total score of NBS and GA to allow a 3-days variation in GA estimatio compared to the original scale which has a 2-week variation due to the application of a 5-score interval for the total NBS score and only even numbers for GA. GA by eNBS(GA-eNBS) was compared with GA by LMP(GA-LMP) and GA by standard NBS(GA-sNBS) in 133 full-term newborns. Difference between GA-LMP and GA-eNBS was analyzed for each GA. Results: Positive correlations were observed in GA-sNBS and GA-eNBS with GA-LMP. There was no difference between GA-LMP and GA-eNBS at 39GA and 40GA. At 37GA and 38GA, GA-eNBS overestimated GA-LMP up to 1 week, while underestimating up to 1 week at 41GA. Conclusions: The accuracy of eNBS was validated within 3 days of variation in GA estimation at 39-40GA. Overestimation by eNBS suggests the possible acceleration of fetal maturity in premature newborns, while underestimation, of the deceleration of fetal maturity in postterm newborns.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 1998

The antitumor effects of mice fed with cell lysate of Lactobacillus plantarum were studied. The abdominal cancer induced by Sarcoma-180 was markedly inhibited and the expected life span was extended by 60% for the Balb/c mice fed with L. plantarum cell lysate for two weeks. A similar result was obtained for the rat inoculated with Spontaneous Osteosarcoma(SOS). The primary tumor volume of SOS was reduced by 70% for the rats fed with L. plantarum cell lysate (100mg/kg/day) for one week before the inoculation of SOS, while only 42% for the rats fed with the same amount of cell lysate for one week after the inoculation of tumor cell line, SOS. As lung was the metastasis site of SOS, the weight of lung was measured to determine the degree of metastasis inhibition by the L. plantarum cell lysate feeding. The rats fed with cell lysate for one week showed a remarkable inhibition of lung metastasis by 63%(before) and 46%(after), respectively. These results indicate that the feeding of L. plantarum cell lysate to mouse or rat can induce a strong stimulation of mucosal or systemic immune system and these effects results in an efficient antitumor activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.512-519
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• 1997

To investigate the energy, protein, lipid, and lactose intakes of breast-fed infants of lacto-ove-vegetarians, 25 infants(13 boys, 10 girls) were examined on the 0.5th, 1st, 2nd, and 3nd months of lactation. The amount of breast milk intake was determined by a test-weighing method, and the energy content of protein, lipid, and lactose was calculated using the Atwater factor. Thedaily energy intake for boys averaged 316, 436, 447, and 431kcal and that of girls averaged 284, 399, 401, and 390kcal during lactation, respectively. Average energy intake of boys from milk from 2nd week to the 3rd month postpartum was significantly higher than that of girls(p<0.05), because milk intake volume of boys was much higher than that of girls. The protein intake of boys on 2nd week-3rd month averaged 7.33g/day and that of girls averaged 6.29g/day. The lipid intake of 2nd week, months averaged 21.8g/day and that of girls averaged 20.1g/day. The lactose intake of boys averaged 45.48g/day, while that of girls averaged 41.09g/day. The mean intake of protein and lactose in boys was significantly higher than that of girls.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.442-444
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• 2005

Objective : There were few reports about statistically significant factor which contribute to low back pain[LBP] after microscopic discectomy. We analyzed the result of percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy[PRN] for low back pain after microscopic discectomy in lumbar disc herniation. Methods : Forty four patients with LBP after microscopic discectomy who were treated by one level microscopic discectomy from January 2003 to March 2004 were included in this study. They were divided into two groups by the presence of preoperative LBP into preoperative back pain group [group I] and postoperative back pain group [group II]. Radiofrequency procedures were performed in the usual manner, targetting the medial branch of L4, L5 and Sl. Pain relief was estimated at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months following the procedure, using the visual analogue scale. Above 50% pain relief was defined as the positive response. Results : Positive responders were 16 patients [73%] at 1 week, 12 patients [55%] at 1 month, and 7 patients [32%] at 6 months after PRN in group I. In Group II, 18 patients, 15 patients and 13 patients responded positively after 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after PRN, respectively. Conclusion : PRN is an effective treatment for newly developed low back pain after microscopic discectomy. There was no morbidity in our series, but long-term follow up is necessary.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 2019

Background: Potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAH) contribute to an increased post-discharge mortality. Methods: To investigate the between-hospital variation and the relationship between all predictors and mortality after discharge among older adults with PAH, we studied 15,186 older patients with PAH in 2,200 hospitals included in the National Health Insurance Service-Senior claims database from 2002 to 2013. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the variance at between-hospital for mortality after accounting for differences in patient characteristics. Results: The between-hospital variation in mortality that could be attributed to hospital practice variations were 37.6% at 1-week to 13.9% at 12-month post-discharge, after adjustment for individual patient characteristics and hospital-level factors. Hospital-level factors significantly explained mortality at 3 weeks after discharge. Clinics, compared with general hospitals, demonstrated a 2.75 times higher likelihood of deaths at 3-week post-discharge (p<0.001). Compared with private hospitals, public hospitals exhibited 1.61 times higher odds of 3-week mortality (p=0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrates considerable between-hospital variations in PAH-related mortality that could be attributed to hospital practices. Monitoring of hospitals to identify practice variations would be warranted to improve the survival of older patients with PAH.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to identify work-related risk factors, including long working hours and night/shift work, for unmet health care need using data of a representative panel of Korean adults. Methods: Associations between work-related factors and unmet health care need were analyzed using data of 3,440 participants (10,320 observations) from the 2011-2013 Korean Health Panel Study. A generalized estimating equation was used for the analysis of repeated measures. Results: The prevalence of unmet health care was 16.6%. After adjusting sex, age, socioeconomic status, work characteristics, and working more than 60 hours per week (odds ratio [OR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-1.65) or 50-59 hours per week (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.46) instead of 40-49 hours per week and night/shift work (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51) were associated with unmet health care need. Conclusion: Long working hours and night/shift work are risk factors for unmet health care need among the Korean working population.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.322-326
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• 2006

A low iodine diet (LID) for $1{\sim}2$ weeks is recommended for patients who undergoing radioiodine remnant ablation. However, the LID educations for patients are different among centers because there is no concrete recommendation for protocol of LID. In this investigation, we compared two representative types of LID protocols performed in several centers in Korea using urine iodine to creatinine ratio (urine I/Cr). Methods: From 2006, April to June, patients referred to our center for radioiodine remnant ablation of thyroid cancer from several local hospitals which had different LID protocols were included. We divided into two groups, stringent LID for 1week and less stringent LID for 2 weeks, then measured their urine I/Cr ratio with spot urine when patients were admitted to the hospital. Results: Total 27 patients were included in this investigation (M:F=1:26; 13 in one-week stringent LID; 14 in two-week less stringent LID. Average of urine I/Cr ratio was $127.87{\pm}78.52{\mu}g/g$ in stringent LID for 1 week, and $289.75{\pm}188.24{\mu}g/g$ in less stringent LID for 2 weeks. It was significantly lower in stringent LID for 1 week group (p=0.008). The number of patients whose urine I/Cr ratios were below $100{\mu}g/g$ was 6 of 13 in stringent LID for 1 week group, and 3 of 14 in less stringent LID for 2 weeks group. Conclusion: Stringent LID for 1 week resulted in better urinary I/Cr ratio in our investigation compared with the other protocol. However it still resulted in plenty of inadequate range of I/Cr ratio, so more stringent protocol such as stringent LID for 2 weeks is expected more desirable.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.61-74
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Asthma-depression and Immunoregulation with PR-HAS(Herbal-acupuncture with Platycodi Radix infusion solution) injection at Joksamni(St36) on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks(once a week). The experimental group(OVA-PR-HA) wase treated with concentrations(1%) of PR-HAS at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). The second experimental group(OVA-Needle prick) was treated with Needle-Prick at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The weight and total cells in the mice lung treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased remarkably compared with those of control group. 3. The sticking of collagen on histological analysis of lung sections, the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 5. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 6. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 7. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5,IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. Conclusion : The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. These result suggests that Platycodi Radix Herbal-acupuncture at Joksamni(St36) in C57BL/6mice may be an effictive part to OVA-induced asthma in C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2019

Endodontic treatment of primary molars is a great challenge to the dentists because of their complex morphology. However, there have been limited controlled in vivo studies about filling materials for primary teeth. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate and compare histologic responses of different calcium hydroxide canal filling materials that are used in daily clinical practice. Pulpectomies were performed in 132 teeth of the dogs. The root canals were randomly filled with either $Vitapex^{(R)}$ (n = 44), $Metapex^{(R)}$ (n = 44), or $Metapaste^{(R)}$ (n = 44). After 4 or 13 weeks, respectively after operation, the dogs were sacrificed, and teeth were processed for histologic examinations. Inflammatory reaction was evaluated and scored in a blind manner. The Fisher's exact test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the tested groups. In 4-week-group, all inflammatory responses were in normal range except for fibrosis. In 13-week-group, increased response to various inflammation reaction was shown compared to the 4-week-group. However, there were no statically significant differences between the tested groups in all inflammatory reaction. Overall, there were no significant differences among three materials in responses of apical tissues and all of them showed favorable tissue responses.