• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.391-401
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• 2008

Probiotics have emerged as a potential treatment modality for numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD. However, few probiotics have undergone appropriate preclinical screening in vivo. Kefir is considered a probiotic, benefiting the host through its effects in the intestinal tract. Despite numerous studies examining the action of probiotics on the host organism, few have analyzed the effects on intestinal environment. We assessed the protective effect of kefir for three weeks before inducing colitis with 2% dextran sodium sulfate for five days. The DSS loads were similar in all DSS treatment group. The results of the experiment are as follows. Food intake and FER of experimental groups were not significantly different each other, but water consumption tended to be higher in all DSS treatment groups as compared with the normal control. And visual inspection of feces revealed mild diarrhea in rat given 2% DSS. The anti-inflammatory activity of kefir was determined by myeloperoxidase activity during the DSS treatment, and there was no significant difference in any group. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a colonic lipid peroxidation were significantly lower in the kefir intake groups than in rats treated with 2% DSS alone. The DNA % in tail and tail moment values as a DNA damage level of the blood lymphocytes in kefir intake groups tended to be lower than 2% DSS treatment alone, especially tail lengths were significantly diminished. According to the colonic histopathological assay, there were a severe inflammation of lamina propria and submucosa and mild edema in mucosa and sub mucosa in DSS alone treated group. We found a slight regenerative change in kefir treatment groups. In our experiments, this means that ulcerative colitis related to oxidative injury might be prevented by kefir as a probiotic. Further studies of the potential benefits of kefir as a probiotic in inflammatory condition are encouraged.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.123-127
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• 1978

The major objective of this research is to identify those hospital characteristics that best explain cost variation among hospitals and to formulate linear models that can predict hospital costs. Specific emphasis is placed on hospital output, that is, the identification of diagnosis related patient groups (DRGs) which are medically meaningful and demonstrate similar patterns of hospital resource consumption. A casemix index is developed based on the DRGs identified. Considering the common problems encountered in previous hospital cost research, the following study requirements are estab-lished for fulfilling the objectives of this research: 1. Selection of hospitals that exercise similar medical and fiscal practices. 2. Identification of an appropriate data collection mechanism in which demographic and medical characteristics of individual patients as well as accurate and comparable cost information can be derived. 3. Development of a patient classification system in which all the patients treated in hospitals are able to be split into mutually exclusive categories with consistent and stable patterns of resource consumption. 4. Development of a cost finding mechanism through which patient groups' costs can be made comparable across hospitals. A data set of Medicare patients prepared by the Social Security Administration was selected for the study analysis. The data set contained 27,229 record abstracts of Medicare patients discharged from all but one short-term general hospital in Connecticut during the period from January 1, 1971, to December 31, 1972. Each record abstract contained demographic and diagnostic information, as well as charges for specific medical services received. The 'AUT-OGRP System' was used to generate 198 DRGs in which the entire range of Medicare patients were split into mutually exclusive categories, each of which shows a consistent and stable pattern of resource consumption. The 'Departmental Method' was used to generate cost information for the groups of Medicare patients that would be comparable across hospitals. To fulfill the study objectives, an extensive analysis was conducted in the following areas: 1. Analysis of DRGs: in which the level of resource use of each DRG was determined, the length of stay or death rate of each DRG in relation to resource use was characterized, and underlying patterns of the relationships among DRG costs were explained. 2. Exploration of resource use profiles of hospitals; in which the magnitude of differences in the resource uses or death rates incurred in the treatment of Medicare patients among the study hospitals was explored. 3. Casemix analysis; in which four types of casemix-related indices were generated, and the significance of these indices in the explanation of hospital costs was examined. 4. Formulation of linear models to predict hospital costs of Medicare patients; in which nine independent variables (i. e., casemix index, hospital size, complexity of service, teaching activity, location, casemix-adjusted death. rate index, occupancy rate, and casemix-adjusted length of stay index) were used for determining factors in hospital costs. Results from the study analysis indicated that: 1. The system of 198 DRGs for Medicare patient classification was demonstrated not only as a strong tool for determining the pattern of hospital resource utilization of Medicare patients, but also for categorizing patients by their severity of illness. 2. The wei틴fed mean total case cost (TOTC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the study years was $11,27.02 with a standard deviation of $117.20. The hospital with the highest average TOTC ($1538.15) was 2.08 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average TOTC ($743.45). The weighted mean per diem total cost (DTOC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the sutdy years was $107.98 with a standard deviation of $15.18. The hospital with the highest average DTOC ($147.23) was 1.87 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average DTOC ($78.49). 3. The linear models for each of the six types of hospital costs were formulated using the casemix index and the eight other hospital variables as the determinants. These models explained variance to the extent of 68.7 percent of total case cost (TOTC), 63.5 percent of room and board cost (RMC), 66.2 percent of total ancillary service cost (TANC), 66.3 percent of per diem total cost (DTOC), 56.9 percent of per diem room and board cost (DRMC), and 65.5 percent of per diem ancillary service cost (DTANC). The casemix index alone explained approximately one half of interhospital cost variation: 59.1 percent for TOTC and 44.3 percent for DTOC. Thsee results demonstrate that the casemix index is the most importand determinant of interhospital cost variation Future research and policy implications in regard to the results of this study is envisioned in the following three areas: 1. Utilization of casemix related indices in the Medicare data systems. 2. Refinement of data for hospital cost evaluation. 3. Development of a system for reimbursement and cost control in hospitals.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.547-561
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to segment the delivery food market and to develop customized products and services. Methods: This study analyzed 636 responses collected from customers who ordered delivery food. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS program (ver. 25.0) for frequency analysis, χ²-test, one-way analysis of variance, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Results: Four factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis (safety-orientation, convenience-orientation, taste-orientation, and economy-orientation) to explain the consumers' food-related lifestyles. The results of cluster analysis indicated that the 'low-interest group', 'convenience and economy-oriented group', and 'gourmet and economy-oriented group' should be regarded as the target segments. Characteristic analysis of each cluster showed that lowinterest group had higher rates of married (67.1%) and living with family (85.4%) than other clusters. The convenience and the economy-oriented group had higher rates of living alone (28.9%) than others. The gourmet and the economy-oriented group had a higher percentage of unmarried (62.0%) than the others. In addition, the average age of convenience and economy-oriented group (32.3 years) and gourmet and economy-oriented group (32.5 years) were significantly lower than the safety seeker (40.0 years) (p < 0.001). Difference analysis of the consumption practice according to the cluster, revealed significant differences in the order frequency (p < 0.001), main day to order (p < 0.05), source of information about delivery food (p < 0.001), order method (p < 0.001), and co-consumer (p < 0.01). In addition, the convenience and the economy-oriented group had significantly higher overall satisfaction than the others (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that customer segmentation based on a food-related lifestyle can be used to build a successful marketing strategy. Therefore, restaurant managers and delivery platform operators should consider developing products and services according to the segmentation to maximize customer satisfaction.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.565-575
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the amount of alcohol and drinking frequency among high school students based on social alcohol drinking supply. The data was on 161 drinkers aged between 16 and 19 from 21 high schools across the country using a questionnaire of the International Alcohol Control(IAC) Study, which was developed in 2012. Results show that the higher the number of social suppliers offering alcoholic beverages to high school students, the greater the consumption of alcohol per episode(59.433 g for one person, 113.40 g for two, and 133.56 g for three or more people). On the other hand, alcohol consumption among 'Honsul' people, a group that drinks alone without a social drinking supplier, was 167.84 grams, higher than that of groups that receive social drinking services. As a social drinking supplier for teenagers, drinking was the highest by their father (29.3 %), while friends (25.0 %) and mothers (20.7 %) were the main drinking suppliers. In particular, the provision of drinking due to father(𝛽=-.32, t=3.55, p<.01) and mother(𝛽=.22, t=2.71, p<.01) showed statistical significance as a factor in increasing the frequency of providing social drinking in adolescents. On the other hand, partner/boy or girl friend (𝛽=-.23, t=-2.73, p<.01) was a factor in reducing the frequency of alcohol provision. Friends(𝛽=.24, t=3.02, p<.01) and senior-junior schoolmates(𝛽=.16, t=2.04, p<.05) were the factors that increase the total alcohol intake of adolescents. This is due to the increase in the frequency of alcohol provision. This suggests that alcohol harm education should be expanded from students to parents, considering the role of parents as a social drinking supplier and the link between high alcohol intake among teenagers due to senior-junior friends and schoolmates.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.313-319
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• 2005

This survey was conducted in order to obtain the basic data for desirable consumption habits through investigation and analysis of university students' fast food consumption behaviors. Questionnaires were collected from a total of 374 male and female students living in big or small and medium-sized cities in August, 2004. The contents surveyed were utilization and expenses of fast foods, choice of fast foods, relationship between fast foods and a diet, and characteristics of fast food restaurants. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The ratio of the surveyees varied according to gender, residence, and the size of a city they're living in. For example, males took up 48.66% of the surveyees, while females did 51.34%. The ratio of residents in apartments and stand-alone houses was 54.81% and 45.19% each. 47.33% of the respondents were living in big cities, while 52.67% of them in small and medium-sized cities. 2. 70.1% of the surveyees responded that they are with friends when having fast foods. There was a highly significant difference between male and female in the type of eating companions (p<0.001). The average number of days that they eat fast foods was 1 to 2 times a week, which accounted for 63.7% of the respondents. However, in the case of eating foods, there was no significant differences between two sexes. 3. 64.2% of the surveyees paid more than 20,000 won to buy fast foods for a week, which showed no significant differences between genders. They tend to split a bill, rather than one person pays all. There was a highly significant difference between genders in paying method (p<0.001). 4. 52.1 % of the respondents chose a menu themselves. Their most favored food was chickens (26.5%), which showed a statistically significant difference between genders (p<0.001). 46.8% of them preferred coke as a drink, which had no significant difference between genders. 42.2% of the surveyees had fast foods between lunch and dinner, which also had no significant difference between genders. The most important factor in choosing a menu was its taste (62.8%), which indicated a significant difference between males and females (p<0.05). 5. The preference to fast foods was due to the influence of western culture (36.4%) and eating-out habits (29.1%), which was significantly different between genders (p<0.05). Those who eat fast foods answered they have normal weight and normal body type (49.5%). 24.3% of them were relatively fat with significant difference between genders (p<0.05). 63.4% of the surveyees thought themselves not picky with foods, and there was a significant difference between genders (p<0.05). 78.3% of them mostly preferred franchise restaurants because they are convenient and cheap.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.183-189
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• 2017

This study investigated the synergistic effect of single inoculation and co-inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) Burkholderia metallica JH-7 and Burkholderia contaminans JH-15. Phosphate-solubilizing abilities of these strains were assessed by measuring phosphorus content in culture media that were singly inoculated or co-inoculated with these strains for 7 days. B. metallica JH-7 was found to release the highest content of soluble phosphorus ($140.80{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ ) into the medium, followed by single inoculation of B. contaminans JH-15 ($135.95{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ ) and co-inoculation of two strains ($134.84{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ ). The highest pH reduction, organic acid production, and glucose consumption were observed in the medium inoculated with B. metallica JH-7 alone compared with that in the medium co-inoculated with both the strains. Results of a plant growth promotion bioassay showed 17.4% and 7.48% higher leaf and root growth, respectively, in romaine lettuce inoculated with B. metallica JH-7 alone than in romaine lettuce inoculated with a control strain. However, no significant difference was observed between single inoculation and co-inoculation of these strains with respect to phosphorus release and plant growth. Although the results of the present study did not show the synergistic effect of phosphate solubilization by the PSB strains examined, these results indicate that treatment with PSB exerts a beneficial effect on crop growth.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2018

This study investigated the synergistic effect of single inoculation and co-inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) Pantoea rodasil LH-1and Burkholderia stabilis HS-7. Phosphate-solubilizing abilities of these strains were assessed by measuring phosphorus content in culture media that were singly inoculated or co-inoculated with these strains for 7 days. The co-inoculation of P. rodasil LH-1and B. stabilis HS-7 was found to release the highest content of soluble phosphorus ($783.41{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) into the medium, followed by single inoculation of B. stabilis HS-7B ($743.90{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) and P. rodasil LH-1 ($736.59{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). The highest pH reduction, organic acid production, and glucose consumption were also observed in the medium inoculated with both the strains, compared with that in the medium inoculated with the strain alone. Results of a plant growth promotion bioassay showed 7.7% and 15.5% higher leaf and root growth, respectively, in romaine lettuce co-inoculated with P. rodasil LH-1and B. stabilis HS-7 than those inoculated with the strain alone. However, no significant difference was observed between single inoculation and co-inoculation of these strains with respect to phosphorus release and plant growth. Although the results of the present study did remarkdly not show the synergistic effect of phosphate solubilization by co-inoculation of the PSB strains examined, these results indicate that treatment with PSB exerts a beneficial effect on crop growth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.58-72
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the food and nutrient intake of Korean elderly according to the anxiety and depressive condition using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) from 2013 to 2015. Methods: The participants were 3,504 elderly people over 65 years of age (1,523 in men and, 1,981 in women). The dietary information was analyzed using the 24-hour recall data. The anxiety and depressive state was assessed using the self-reported scale EQ-5D in the quality of life dimension. The subjects were divided into the anxiety depression group (AD) and non-anxiety depression group (NAD) according to their anxiety and depressive conditions. Results: In the male elderly, the AD group had a significantly lower education and economic level and higher proportion in living alone than the NAD group. The percentage of eating lunch and dinner alone in the male AD group was higher than that of the NAD group. The female AD group showed less a lower frequency of dinner than the NAD group. The male AD group had a lower consumption of total foods, fish and shellfishes, seaweeds, mushrooms, oils and fats, and seasonings than the NAD group. With regard to the nutrient intake, the male elderly NAD group had more sufficient nutrient intakes than the AD group. In particular, the daily intakes of dietary fiber, riboflavin, niacin, potassium and iron were significantly lower in the AD group. To compare with the nutrient density of the two groups, the vitamin C and niacin intakes were lower in the AD group than in the NAD group. Overall, the nutritional status of the male AD group was significantly lower than that of the NAD group. Meanwhile, the female elderly had showed a smaller difference in nutrient intake according to their anxiety and depressive condition. Conclusion: These results of this study show that more nutritional education and emotional support are needed to improve the nutritional status and health of the male elderly with anxiety or depression.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.215-221
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• 2007

Neuronal cell toxicity induced by decreased nitric oxide (NO) production may be caused by modulation of constitutive neuronal NO synthase (nNOS). We used lead acetate ($Pb^{2+}$) to modulate physiological NO release and the related pathways of protein kinases like PKC, CaM-KII, and PKA in CATH.a cells, a dopaminergic cell line that has constitutive nNOS activity. In the cells treated with $Pb^{2+}$, cell viability and modulation (phosphorylation) levels of nNOS were determined by MTT assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. nNOS reductase activity (cytochrome c) was also assessed to compare the phosphorylation site-specific nNOS activity. nNOS activity was also determined by NADPH consumption rates. $Pb^{2+}$ treatment alone increased the phosphorylation of nNOS with decreased reductase activity. The phosphorylation levels increased markedly with decreased nNOS reductase activity, when $Pb^{2+}$ was combined with inhibitors for two (PKC and CaM-KII) or three (PKA, PKC and CaM-KII) protein kinases. Interestingly, when the cells were exposed to $Pb^{2+}$ plus PKC or CaM-KII inhibitor, the nNOS was phosphorylated strongly with the lowest activity. However, the levels of phosphorylated nNOS following $Pb^{2+}$ treatment decreased significantly after combined treatment with the PKA inhibitor, and $Pb^{2+}$-induced suppression of reductase activity did not occur. These results demonstrate that physiological NO release in the neuronal cells exposed to $Pb^{2+}$ can be decreased by PKA-mediated nNOS phosphorylation that may be caused by interactions with PKC and/or CaM-KII.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2007

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces fat deposition in several mammalian species. The proposed mechanisms for this effect are reduced preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of diglyceride (DG), CLA, DG-CLA of proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Cell viability was determined using WST-8 analysis and cell differentiation was determined by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. Lipid accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells was measured by Oil red O staining. The proliferation of preconfluent 3T3-L1 cells by treatments of DG, CLA, and DG-CLA was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. CLA among them was the most effective in reduction of viable cells with increasing concentrations. Treatments of the DG, CLA, and DG-CLA at the concentration of $100{\cdot}\ddot{I}g/ml$ for 48h significantly inhibited differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (p<0.05). In addition. cytoplasmic lipid accumulation during differentiation of the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was also inhibited by treatments of the test solutions. DG-CLA was the most effective in the inhibition of differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. These results indicate that the DG including CLA as fatty acids is more effective for anti-obesity than DG or CLA alone and that consumption of DG-CLA as a dietary oil may give a benefit for controlling overweight in humans.