• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.2
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• pp.203-207
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• 2007

Restorative effect of forest settings is an emerging issue in the field of forestry. It is also the central question facing those currently engaged in the psychotherapeutic interventions is which treatments work. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy of forest experience on alcoholics' depression. Among 531 participants in forest healing camps, 47 alcoholics who participated all three sessions of the camps were selected for this study. Using pre-test and post-test group design with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), mean changes in alcoholics' depression by completion of the camp was measured. The result of this study indicated that the 3-session of forest camp played significant role in reducing participants depression levels (i.e., positive changes in depression scores).

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1999

Chronic alcoholism often leads to folate deficiency. In recent years it has been reported that mild elevation of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. In the present study we investigated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on folate status and the relation between plasma folate and Hcy. A human study was conducted to determine plasma folate, total Hcy, cysteine(Cys), total cholesterol and hemoglobin(Hb) concentrations in 44 Korean alcoholics(men aged 30 to 50yr) and 45 Korean non-alcoholic subjects(men aged 30 to 50 yr). In alcoholic subjects, 52.6% were folate deficient and 34.2% were marginally deficient, which suggested that most alcoholics were subnormal in folate status. Plasma total Hcy concentration of alcoholics was twice as high as in control subjects (p<0.001). We found a negative correlation between plasma folate and plasma total Hcy(r=-0.271, p<0.05) and a positive correlation between plasma folate and plasma Cys(r=0.249, p<0.05) in total subjects. Hb concentrations in alcoholics was significantly lower than in control subjects, but there was no difference in total cholesterol concentration between alcoholics and controls. These results suggest that chronic alcohol consumption may impair the disposal of Hcy by interfering with folate metabolism.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.338-348
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe healing effects of the forest on alcoholics through a forest experience program. Methods: The qualitative data was gathered from one focus group discussion with 6 alcoholics and individual interviews with 8 alcoholics. They had all participated in a "healing forest" program. All interviews were recorded and transcribed according to thematic content analysis processes. Results: The four main themes on the attributes of forest were "a lively living being", "placidity and tranquility", "acceptive atmosphere", and "beautifulness as it is" which revealed the participants' perceived nature of the forest which was attributed to the healing effects. Eight other themes on participants' positive changes included "revived senses", "aspired to live", "relieved and relaxed from being tense", "gaining insight on self", "having an acceptive attitude", "becoming compliant with his/her life", "learning that life is being together" and "recognizing the value of one's existence". Conclusion: The findings of the study illustrated the participants' self-healing processes through interactions with the nature of the forest. Nursing interventions utilizing healing atmospheres such as "healing forest" programs can be considered helpful in providing a venue to alcoholics to reflect on their lives affirmatively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 1999

The prevalence of alcoholism among elderly population is reported to be high in rural areas in Korea. Chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to the development of vitamin B deficiency through inadequate intake, altered absorption and metabolism, and increased excretion. The present study was conducted to assess vitamin B1 and B2 status in seventeen alcohol dependent subjects who do not exhibit any clinical neurological symptoms. Vitamin B1 and B2 nutritional states were determined enzymatically by measurement of transketolase and glutathione reductase activities in erythrocytes, respectively. And dietary intakes of nutrients were determined by a 24-hr recall method. The mean percent activation of erythrocyte transketolase was significantly higher in alcoholics than in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The proportion of subjects with a low and borderline status of vitamin B1, was significantly higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The mean percent activation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase was not different between alcoholics and control. And the proportion of subjects with low and borderline status of Vitamin B2, was higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.1). Vitamin B1 and B2 status were significantly decreased in alcoholics who were smoking cigarettes compared to non-smoking and non-alcoholic subjects(p<0.05). Whether vitamin supplementation improves the vitamin status of alcohol dependent subjects remains to be researched.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 1996

Alcoholics increased susceptibility to microbial infection that is associated with decreased immunity. but there has been little experimental evidence to support alcoholics-induced increase of microbial infection directly in non-specific immunity. Therefore, we were used the method of phagocytic-plaque including all the stimulating factors for the phagocytosis, subtypes of lymphocytes and T-lymphocyte proliferation. The experimental groups were divided into 3 groups: (1) alcoholics who were hospitalized less than 1 week (newly hospitalized alcoholics), (2) alcoholics who were hospitalized more than 2 weeks (old hospitalized alcoholics), (3) healthy blood donors. We have studied 98 alcoholics and 35 healthy blood donors and control groups. A physician has checked the biological markers and diagnosed the body-condition alcoholics. The immunity and non-specific immunity on the alcoholics were analyzed by using the simultest kit and flow cytometry. Proliferation of the lymphocytes was analyzed by the phytohemmagglutinine mitogen. Phagocytosis and migration properties of leukocytes were identified on the layer formed by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain. Biological markers of alcoholics and control groups, by such as blood glucose, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase and mean corpuscular volumes of red blood cells, were determined by biochemical and hematological methods. Compared with control groups, cluster of differentiation (CD)3+, CD8+ and CD19+ in alcoholic were more decreased except CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Proliferation of the T-lymphocytes, phagocytosis and migration properties of the leukocytes in alcoholics were decreased compared with those of control groups. According to the results observed in our experiment, they can be summerized as follows: 1, Cellular, humoral and non-specific immunities, are markedly decreased in alcoholics than those in control groups. 2. It is inferred that Phagocytic plaque formation is a very useful method to evaluate phagocytosis and migration properties of the alcoholic leukocytes 3. It is thought that the subtypes of lymphocytes, especially CD4+/CD8+ ratio, are essential methods to analyzed the alcoholic immunity. 4. Specific and non-specific immunity on the old hospitalized alcoholics was slightly increased, which depends upon the alcoholic medication.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 1997

The author attempted to examine the allelic association between the A1 allele of Dopamine $D_2$ receptor and alcoholism in Koreans. The allelic distribution of Taq I polymorphism of the $D_2$ dopamine receptor gene with alcoholism was examined in 67 Korean alcoholics and compared with 100 Korean controls. In alcoholics, the numbers of alcoholics with A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 were 11(16.4%), 30(44.8%) and 26(38.8%) respectively and in controls with A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 were 17(17.0%), 42(42.0%) and 41(41.0%), respectively. The prevalence of the A1 allele in alcoholics was 61.2% and 59.0% in controls. And the frequency of the A1 allele in alcoholics and controls were 0.39 and 0.38, respectively. There was not significant difference in the frequency of the A1 allele between alcoholics and controls. This data suggest that the A1 allele is not associated with alcoholism in Koreans. The author conclude that our data do not support an allelic association between the A1 allele at Dopamine $D_2$ receptor and alcoholism. Further systemized studies will be necessary to determine whether the role of allele of Dopamine $D_2$receptor is major effect gene or modifying effect gene in the pathogenesis of alcoholism.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.108-117
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics, alcohol-related characteristics and personality trends in the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous. We compared the 33 participants of Alcoholics Anonymous maintaining abstinence at least over 6 months with 35 hospitalized alcoholic patients who have never attended Alcoholics Anonymous and 32 normal controls. The personality trend was measured by Catell's 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire. -Korean Version. The results were as follows: 1) In the demographic data, the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous were mainly 40's, graduated from high school, married, unemployed, middle class in economic state, first or second sons. 2) In alcohol related characteristics, age of first drinking was mainly distributed from 15 to 19 years-old. The most common psychosocial and environmental problem as precipitating factor of alcohol consumption was the problem with primary supper group and the second one was occupational. Most of them drank everyday, and admitted one time. 3) In the first stratum sources traits, the participants of Alcoholics Anonymous demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic Patients, but lower than normal control in C-factor(stableness). They demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients and normal controls in O-factor(Guilt-proness) and demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients in Q3-factor(self-control). 4) In the second stratum sources traits, they demonstrated significantly higher score than hospitalized alcoholic patients in EXT-factor(extroversions), and lower score than hospitalized alcoholic patients and normal controls in IND-factor(independence).

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the neural substrates for recognizing facial expressions among alcoholics by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Abstinent inpatient alcoholics (n=18 males) and demographically similar social drinkers (n=16 males) participated in the study. The participants viewed pictures from the Japanese Female Facial Expression Database (JAFFE) and evaluated intensity of facial expressions. the alcoholics had a reduced activation in the limbic areas including amygdala and hippocampus while recognizing the emotional facial expressions compared to the nonalcoholic controls. On the other hand, the alcoholics showed greater brain activations than the controls in the left lingual (BA 19)/fusiform gyrus, the left middle frontal gyrus (BA 8/9/46), and the right superior parietal lobule (BA 7) during the viewing of emotional faces. In sum, specific brain regions were identified that are associated with recognition of facial expressions among alcoholics. The implication of the present study could be used in developing intervention for alcoholism.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 1999

Objectives : The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in plasma superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in alcohol depedence, to find out variables to influence on the SOD activities, and finally to identify the correlation of SOD activities with the alcohol-associated cognitive disorders. Methods : For 24 male alcoholics and 21 healthy male controls, plasma SOD activities were measured by spectrophotometry on 1-2 wks after alcohol withdrawal. Structured interviews and laboratory tests were also performed. Results : 1) Upon comparing SOD activities between controls and alcoholics, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.01) lower in alcoholics($0.308{\pm}0.140$ units/mL) than in healthy controls($0.313{\pm}0.086$ units/mL). 2) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.05) lower in alcoholics with cognitive disorders($0.247{\pm}0.049$ units/mL) than in alcoholics without cognitive disorders($0.317{\pm}0.148$ units/mL). 3) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcoholic polyneuropathy or alcohol withdrawal seizure, the SOD activities showed no significant differences between alcoholics with polyneuropathy or epilepsy and those without. 4) Upon analyzing variables influencing on the SOD activities in alcoholics, the SOD activities had the negative correlation with hemoglobin(${\gamma}=-0.433$) and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.375$). 5) Upon comparing variables according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the occurrence of alcoholic polyneuropathy(p<0.05) and blood phosphorus concentrations(p<0.01) were significantly higher in alcoholics with cognitive disorders than those without. 6) Upon analyzing an association between SOD activities and variables in alcoholics with cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were positively correlated with the onset age(${\gamma}=0.995$), and negatively correlated with the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.996$). Conclusions : Lower SOD activities in alcohol dependence suggested alcohol-associated cognitive disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms might be caused by oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.415-423
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• 1990

'The Joobang' is a cooking book written purely in Korean which came from a Mr. Lee. It is unknown when and by whom this book was written, but it is inferred from red pepper mentioned in this book and from Korean-writting type that the book was written around in the mid-nineteenth century. The contents of 'the Joobang' consist of thirty seven items in all : sixteen items of rice alcoholics, five side dishes, eleven Tucks(rice cakes) and Guaja(cookies) and five processed materials. Cereals for making rice alcoholics were regular rice and sticky rice. In the first brew, rice alcoholics is made all from regular rice, and in the second brew, fifty six percent of regular rice and forty four percent of sticky rice was made use of. For five items of alcoholics forming 31.3% of alcoholics, flour was added, in which case the proportion of leaven to cereals was lower. There were four types of processing cereals in brewing rice alcoholics Jee-ae-bop(steamed rice, 60.9%), thick gruel with cereals ground and completely cooked(8.7%), thick gruel with cereals ground and half cooked (26.1%) and GooMung Tuck(doughnut-shaped rice cake, 4.3%). The comparison of the materials for brewing rice alcoholics and of the types of processing cereals presented in the seven cooking books purely in Korean(Umsik Deemeebang, JoobangMoon, Umsikbo, Sool-mandununbop, Kyuhap chongseo. The Kims' Joobangmoon and The Lee's Umsikbup) showed us the following facts ; Yihwajoo (rice alcoholics brewed around the blooming time of pear trees) and Kwahajoo(rice alcoholics which passed the summed time) were most often introduced and commonest, and the materials for brewing and the types of processing little changed over times. The materials for side dishes were all animal food, and vegetable food was little used for side dishes. Red pepper was used for seasoning. It is a problem of Korean traditional cooking that there were no units of measuring for side dishes. The main materials for Tuck(rice cakes) and Guaja(cookies) were sticky rice, regular rice and honey. There was a variety of terms for the process, from which we can see that the procedures of making Tuck(rice cakes) and Guaja(cookies) were very complicate. Processed materials were chiefly made of sticky rice and the material of firewood(oak trees) and the strength of fire(fire burning vigorously and fire turning to ashes) were described.