• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.42-49
• /
• 2019

This study compared the utility of the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio with that of uric acid as a risk predictor of metabolic syndrome. From November 2016 to October 2018, 14,190 adult men under the age of 20 years, who underwent a comprehensive health checkup at a general hospital in their metropolitan area, were included. Metabolic syndrome was assessed according to the American Heart Association/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) criteria. Abdominal obesity was based on the WHO criteria in the Western Pacific region. The serum uric acid/creatinine ratio was found to be higher in the fourth quartile than in the first quartile, with a high incidence of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome components. On the other hand, ROC analysis revealed the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio to be a similar indicator of the metabolic syndrome risk to serum uric acid (AUC, 0.554 vs 0.566). The serum uric acid/creatinine ratio showed lower sensitivity and higher specificity than uric acid. In conclusion, the utility of the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio as an independent indicator to predict the risk of metabolic syndrome is limited, and should be used only as an auxiliary marker.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.46-54
• /
• 2001

Background and Objectives : Nitric oxide(NO) is a short-lived molecule with messenger and cytotoxic functions in nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Among the three distinct NOS isoforms, the neuronal isoform is expressed in small, discrete neuronal populations of CNS and PNS. Axonal injury in adult animals results in a dramatic NOS up-regulation in many types of central and peripheral neurons which normally lack the enzyme or express it only at very low levels. In previous study, we confirmed the efficacy of PEMS on the early functional recovery in rats with surgically transected and reanastomosed recurrent laryngeal nerve. Therefore, after we obtained functionally recovered rats using PEMS in this study, we studied to evaluate the expression of nNOS through the analysis of the difference between functional recovery group and non-recovery group in the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Materials and Method : Using 84 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, transections and primary anastomosis were performed on their left recurrent laryngeal nerves. Rats were then randomly assigned to 2 groups. The rats in group A(n=42) received PEMS by placing them in custom cages equipped with Helm-holz coils(3 hr/day, 5 days/wk, for 12 wk). The rats in group B(n=42) were handled the same way as the group A, except that they did not receive PEMS. Laryngovideoendoscopy was performed before and after surgery and followed up weekly. Laryngeal EMG was obtained in both PCA and TA muscles. Immunohistochemisty staining using monoclonal anti-neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) antibody was performed to detect nNOS in recurrent laryngeal nerve and nodose ganglion. Results : 20 rats(63%) in group A and 5 rats(17%) in the group B showed recovery of vocal fo1d motion. The number of NOS-positive cells was increased in functionally-recovered rats. NOS-staining intensity was reduced 12 weeks after nerve injury. The difference between PEMS group and non-stimulated group was not found. Conclusion : This study shows that nNOS may exert a beneficial effect on nerve regeneration and functional repair.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.19
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2001

This study was carried out to develop a seedling raising method without nursery soils in automatic raising facility of rice seedlings for machine transplanting. Pre-germinated seeds were sowed on the seed trays with three different seats such as paper seat, corrugated board, and polyethylene film instead of nursery soils. The growth characteristics of the seedlings for 20 days after sowing were compared with that of a conventional standard raising method with nursery soils. There was no difference in plant height of 10-day old seedlings among the different nursery methods, but the plant height of seedlings grown for 15 days after sowing in the trays with fivefold newspaper and nursery soils was significantly taller than those on other nursery conditions. Dry weight of seedlings grown in the tray with fivefold newspaper bottom was heavier than those in nursery trays with a corrugated board and a piece of polyethylene film. The seedlings grown in a nursery tray with fivefold newspaper showed better seedling quality and root-mat formation compared with the other nursery trays. This result suggests that the healthy seedlings for machine transplanting can be raised in the paper-sheet tray without nursery soils. The labour hours and cost required for the soil-free method using paper was reduced by about 49.3% and 26.6%, respectively, compared with the semi-adult seedling on nursery soils.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.310-320
• /
• 2014

Backgrounds: Endotoxin, which found in the outer membrane of the gram-negative bacteria cell wall, makes up almost all of the lipopolysaccharide(LPS). When people are exposed to endotoxin,it can result in diverse health effects such as an airway irritation and inflammation, fever, malaise, bronchitis, allergic asthma, toxic pneumonitis, hypersensitivity lung disease. Cases among the elderly, children or pregnant can occur more frequently than a healthy adult if they are repeatedly exposed to the existing endotoxin. Therefore, we investigated and assessed the environmental characteristics associated with the airborne endotoxin concentration level in six hospital lobbies. Method: Endotoxin from indoor air in six hospital lobbies was measured by an area sampling method and analyzed according to American Society for Testing and Materials International(ASTM international) E2144-01. Total suspended particulate(TSP), carbon dioxide($CO_2$), temperature and humidity were also measured by using direct reading measurements or airborne sampling equipment at the same time. Environmental characteristics were appropriately divided into two or three groups for a statistics analysis. One-way analysis variable(one-way ANOVA) was used to examine a difference of the endotoxin concentration, depending on the environmental characteristics. In addition, only variables with p-value(p<0.25) were eventually designed to the best model by using multiple regression analysis. Results: The correlation analysis result indicated that TSP(p=0.003) and $CO_2$(p<0.0001) levels were significantly associated with endotoxin concentration levels. In contrast, temperature(p<0.068) and humidity(p<0.365) were not associated with endotoxin concentration. Levels of endotoxin concentration were statistically different among the environmental characteristics of Service time(p=0.01), Establishment of hospital(p<0.001), Scale of hospital(p=0.01), Day average people using hospital(p=0.03), Cleaning time of lobby(p=0.05), Season(p<0.001), and Cleaning of ventilation system(p<0.001) according to ANOVA. Finally, the best model(Adjusted R-square=72%) that we designed through a multiple regression test included environmental characteristics related to Service time, Area of lobby, Season, Cleaning of ventilation system, and Temperature. Conclusions: According to this study, our result showed a normal level of endotoxin concentration in the hospital lobbies and found environmental management methods to reduce the level of endotoxin concentration to a minimum. Consequently, this study recognized to be requirement for the management of ventilation systems and an indoor temperature in order to reduce the level of endotoxin concentration in the hospital lobbies.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in the brain connectivity in mental practice and physical performance of training bilateral upper extremity function. Method: The subject performed activities involving mental tasks and physical exercise for bilateral upper extremity functioning during each phase of EEG measurements. The subject performed a symmetrical task(lifting a box and placing it back) that involved moving both arms at the same time and an asymmetrical task(opening and closing a bottle cap) in order to perform functional tasks. EEG electrodes were attached to Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, T3, T4, P3, and P4. Data analysis was performed using Cross-Line Mapping for correlational analyses between EEG electrode pairs. Conclusion: This study found that the brain connectivity patterns of symmetrical and asymmetric upper extremity tasks have similar patterns for the motor and sensory area, and that the correlation of the physical practice is generally higher than that of the mental practice.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.619-626
• /
• 2009

As a trial for the development of a new starter culture for yogurt products, more than two hundred lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated from raw milk and healthy human feces. The strains that showed excellent growth and acid production ability in the 10% skim milk media were selected and identified as Lactobacillus casei through the API carbohydrate fermentation pattern and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. L. casei CU2604 was further investigated for its physiological characteristics as a starter culture compared with a commercial strain. The CU2604 strain showed good acid production and growth characteristics in milk, which were comparable to those of the L. casei Shirota strain. Despite the fact that both these strains displayed the same sugar fermenting pattern and PFGE band pattern, and had similar growth characteristic in milk, L. casei CU2604 exhibited different fatty acid composition in the cell wall, showed more tolerance to bile and to pH, and presented better growth inhibition activity against pathogenic bacteria. Based on these results, the L. casei CU2604 strain holds great promise for use as a novel and efficient starter culture in the production of yogurt. Additional studies on the probiotic characteristics of this strain are currently being conducted.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.427-430
• /
• 2011

The aim of this study was to test the susceptibility of mice to Trypanosoma evansi treated with human plasma containing different concentrations of apolipoprotein L-1 (APOL1). For this experiment, a strain of T. evansi and human plasma (plasmas 1, 2, and 3) from 3 adult males clinically healthy were used. In vivo test used 50 mice divided in 5 groups (A to E) with 10 animals in each group. Animals of groups B to E were infected, and then treated with 0.2 ml of human plasma in the following outline: negative control (A), positive control (B), treatment with plasma 1 (C), treatment with plasma 2(D), and treatment with plasma 3 (E). Mice treated with human plasma showed an increase in longevity of $40.9{\pm}0.3$ (C), $20{\pm}9.0$ (D) and $35.6{\pm}9.3$ (E) days compared to the control group (B) which was $4.3{\pm}0.5$ days. The number of surviving mice and free of the parasite (blood smear and PCR negative) at the end of the experiment was 90%, 0%, and 60% for groups C, D, and E, respectively. The quantification of APOL1 was performed due to the large difference in the treatments that differed in the source plasma. In plasmas 1, 2, and 3 was detected the concentration of 194, 99, and 115 mg/dl of APOL1, respectively. However, we believe that this difference in the treatment efficiency is related to the level of APOL1 in plasmas.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.315-320
• /
• 2005

With regard to the fact that temperature of human body remains almost constant at $37^{\circ}C$, changes by circadian variation, this study intended to investigate the effect of circadian rhythm on physiological responses of human body according to body fat rate. Fifteen healthy adult women were recruited for this study and were measured body fat as a method of bio impedance. We organized subjects into three groups ; low body fat group(group L-less than 20% of body fat), medium body fat group(group M-20%~30% of body fat) and high body fat group(group H-more than 30% of body fat). The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber of $32^{\circ}C$, 60% RH with the repeat of 'Exercise' and 'Rest' period. Subjects participated in two experiments, one is morning experiment(called 'AM'), the other is afternoon experiment (called 'PM'). The results of this study are as follows ; As to the variation of rectal temperature, group L and M had a significant difference in the time of the day between AM and PM, but group H had almost the same rectal temperature in the two kinds of experimental time. The reason why group H had a smaller difference in the circadian rhythm of rectal temperature in this study is estimated at the Budd et al.(1991)'s results that body fat had effects on reduction in thermogenesis, radiation, mean skin temperature, and increase in insulation of the tissues. Group M had the highest mean skin temperature in the 'PM'. All the 3 groups didn't have stable values in 'AM'. But it showed more stable in 'PM' than 'AM'. Sweat rate was the highest in group H in both 'AM' and 'PM'. Group M had larger sweat rate in 'PM' than 'AM'. but in group L and H, sweat rate was almost the same in two kinds of time of the day. This result suggests that who have more or less body fat have larger difference in sweat rate between morning and afternoon than who have normal body fat.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.114-118
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to estimate one mouthful volume in a single swallow and average volume per swallow (AVS) in multiple swallows in the situation of toxic liquid poisoning. Methods: Thirty five men and 35 women were included in this study. Each subject was asked to drink one swallow and three consecutive swallows from bottle containing water and a bottle containing saline separately. We calculated one mouthful volume in a single swallow and AVS in three swallows. One mouthful volume and AVS were compared according to sex and content, respectively. One mouthful volume of water and saline was then compared with AVS of each. Results: Sixty seven adults(34 men; $26.9{\pm}3.2$ years, 33 women; $25.6{\pm}2.4$ years) completed the study. Men had larger one mouthful volume of water($49.1{\pm}19.9$ ml vs $39.7{\pm}10.2$ ml, p=0.02) and saline($20.7{\pm}10.9$ ml vs $14.0{\pm}4.6$ ml, p=0.004) and AVS of water($28.5{\pm}11.9$ ml vs $21.5{\pm}5.9$ ml, p=0.004) and saline($11.9{\pm}6.3$ ml vs $7.9{\pm}2.0$ ml, p=0.001) than women. One mouthful volume and AVS of saline swallow were lower than those of water swallow. AVS of three consecutive swallows was lower than one mouthful volume in water and saline swallow. Conclusion: We suggest that one mouthful volume in a single swallow is 21 ml in men and 14 ml in women and AVS in multiple swallows is 12 ml in men and 8 ml in women. AVS in multiple swallows is two-threefold lower than reference values(20~30 ml) commonly used in poisoning study.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2006

The traditional Korean diet, which is high in rice and vegetables, is fast being replaced by a Western style diet as the standard of living goes up. In addition to this, cigarette smoking has taken on serious proportions, especially amongst those of the younger generation. Because Seoul (and it's surrounding areas) is the hub of Education and Business, it is densely populated and heavily polluted Consequently health-related issues and diseases are starting to resemble those prevalent in Western communities. Historically, stomach cancer was the #1 killer-disease in Korea, but nowadays lung cancer ranks either 1st or 2nd on the list of killer-disease in Korea. This is presumably due to the lethal combination of heavy smoking and pervasive air pollution. Despite these disquieting facts, almost no study had been made of the nutritional patterns and dietary habits of smoking and non-smoking young adults in the Seoul area. Therefore the purpose of this study is to compare the dietary and nutritional patterns of young smokers with those of young non-smokers in and around Seoul. This is done with regards to their eating habits and lifestyles, as well as the dietary components that contribute towards maintaining good health. The results showed that compared to non-smokers, smokers manifested irregular eating patterns and also tended to overindulge on fast- or junk foods. In contrast to this, non-smokers enjoyed a healthier diet, which was high in brown rice, grains, legumes, fresh fruit and vegetables, and 'kimchi'. Amongst the male subjects of this study, it was found that smokers consumed significantly less vitamin $B_2$, calcium, and phosphorous than non-smokers. It was also established that in general, stress-generated smoking habits were formed during the high school years of the younger generation. In conclusion: Because smokers maintain a less healthy diet and life-style, it is to recommended that a 'Health Education Program' be developed which could guide young smokers into adopting better dietary habits and life styles.