• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.377-383
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• 2023

Purpose: There is increasing attention to the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing cognitive functions in subjects to aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite varying treatment outcomes in tDCS which depend on the amount of current reaching the brain, there is no general information on the impacts of anatomical features associated with AD on tDCS-induced electric field. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine how AD-related anatomical variation affects the tDCS-induced electric field using computational modeling. Methods: We collected 180 magnetic resonance images (MRI) of AD patients and healthy controls from a publicly available database (Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative; ADNI), and MRIs were divided into female-AD, male-AD, female-normal, and male-normal groups. For each group, segmented brain volumes (cerebrospinal fluid, gray matter, ventricle, rostral middle frontal (RMF), and hippocampus/amygdala complex) using MRI were measured, and tDCS-induced electric fields were simulated, targeting RMF. Results: For segmented brain volumes, significant sex differences were observed in the gray matter and RMF, and considerable disease differences were found in cerebrospinal fluid, ventricle, and hippocampus/amygdala complex. There were no differences in the tDCS-induced electric field among AD and normal groups; however, higher peak values of electric field were observed in the female group than the male group. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated the presence of sex and disease differences in segmented brain volumes; however, this pattern differed in tDCS-induced electric field, resulting in significant sex differences only. Further studies, we will adjust the brain stimulation conditions to target the deep brain and examine the effects, because of significant differences in the ventricles and deep brain regions between AD and normal groups.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.260-263
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• 2010

Scald, caused by Rhynchosporium secalis has been the major yield-reducing factor for barley production during the last decade. In this study, pathogenic groups of R. secalis were identified to obtain a global picture of the assembly of isolates involved in Syrian populations which is essential for the development of scald-resistant barley cultivars. To identify a number of pathogenic groups, 49 isolates collected over ten years from major barley growing areas in Syria were evaluated on five differential barley genotypes. Genotypes presented a continuous range of response from highly susceptible to moderately resistant, but none were immune to the disease. A cluster analysis placed isolates in six distinct differential pathogenic groups. Mean disease rating of 39.24% was the separation point between avirulent and virulent reactions. Isolate Rs46 exhibited distinct differential virulence patterns associated with high frequency across all genotypes. Hence, the data presented here provides crucial information for future selection of isolates to develop durable barley scald resistance.

• 대한중풍순환신경학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.52-62
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• 2012

Object : The aim of this study was to examine the differences of symptom improvement between different diagnosis classification groups in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied inpatients within a month after the onset of cerebral infarction who were admitted at Kyunghee University Oriental Medical Center from May 2011 to October 2012. We compared the improvement of Motricity Index and Scandinavian Stroke Scale score between Fire-heat group(n=20), Yin deficiency group(n=31), Dampness-phlegm group(n=30), and Qi deficiency group(n=13). Results : Yin deficiency group patients with cerebral infarction showed the most improvement in MI and SSS scores, and patients in Fire-heat group showed the poorest improvement in MI and SSS scores. There was a significant difference between the two groups, but there were no significant differences between all four diagnosis classification groups. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that diagnosis classification could be considered as an important factor in predicting the prognosis of acute cerebral infarction.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.938-945
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the risk of chronic disease as predicted by abdominal obesity in Korean adult females. Data on 2,738 adult females aged 40~64 yrs was obtained from the 2013~2014 Korean National Health Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were divided into normal (n=1,835), abdominal obesity (AO, n=73), and BMI-diagnosed abdominal obesity (BMI-AO, n=505) groups based on the NCEP-ATP III guidelines and by applying the KSSO definition regarding waist circumference. Triglyceride blood levels, fasting blood sugar levels, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the AO and BMI-AO groups than in the normal group. The HDL-cholesterol levels of subjects in the two abdominal groups were lower as compared to those of subjects in the normal group. The mean adequacy ratio was lower among subjects in the AO and BMI-AO groups than among those in the normal group. Moreover, the NAR and INQ scores of some micro-nutrients in both of the abdominal obesity groups were lower than those in the normal group. Both the AO and BMI-AO groups showed significantly higher risks of hypertriglycemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, hypoHDL-cholesterolemia, and metabolic syndrome than were shown by the normal group. Notably, as compared to the normal group, the AO group showed higher risk of hypercholesterolemia, hyperLDL-cholesterolemia, hypertriglycemia, and metabolic syndrome than did the BMI-AO group. This finding suggests that it is essential to develop prevention programs including programs for those with abdominal obesity despite their having a BMI within the normal range.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.479-487
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• 2013

This study is intended to examine the tDCS and Morris Water maze training in Alzheimer's disease(AD) rats on Tau protein expression. Experiment groups were divided into four groups and assigned 16 rats to each group. Group I was a control group(AD induced by scopolamine); Group II was a experimental control group(AD injured by scopolamine and treatment tacrine); Group III was a group of tDCS application after AD injured by scopolamine; Group IV was a group of morris water maze training after AD injured by scopolamine. In cognition test, the outcome of group II was significantly lower than the groups(p<.001). and group III, IV were significantly low result at 14 days(p<.05). In histological finding, the experimental groups were destroy of micro vessels and finding of cell atropy and swelling. Group III, IV were decreased in degeneration of liver and kidney cells. In immuno- histochemistric response of BDNF and tau protein in hippocampus, BDNF expression of Group II was more increase than the other groups. and increase of BDNF expression was III, IV were higher than group I at 21 days. Tau protein expression of Group II was more decrease than the other groups. and decrease of Tau protein expression was III, IV were lower than group I at 21 days. These result suggest that improved tDCS and morris water maze training after scopolamine induced is associated with dynamically altered expression of BDNF and Tau protein in hippocampus and that is related with cognitive function.

• 셀메드
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.12.1-12.6
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect wool in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study was conducted experimentally on 53 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attending the chest diseases polyclinic of a hospital located in Erzurum. A randomized selection method was used to categorize patients into two groups; a treatment (n = 27), and a control group (n = 26). Patients in the treatment group (pre-test measurements were taken) wore wool vests for a period of three months, while patients in the control group wore cotton vests (placebo) for the same duration; post-test measurements were taken for both groups at the end of the three-month period. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and pulmonary function tests were used to collect data. Results concluded that there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the overall score of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and the symptom, effect, and activity mean scores, while there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the SF-36 physical functioning, general health, bodily pain, role physical, vitality, role emotional, social functioning, mental health, physical and mental component summary mean scores of patients in the treatment group. Results of the study concluded that the symptoms, activity, disease effectiveness, and quality of life improved in patients that wore wool vests.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.370-375
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• 2021

Objectives: The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. Methods: We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. Results: There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. Conclusions: This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.37-48
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• 2023

Background: Commensal bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and probiotics have been used as treatment options. We aimed to explore the current use of probiotics and factors associated with their prescription in patients with IBD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a single hospital-based cohort. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, visited the IBD clinic as an outpatient more than twice during the study period, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the prescription of probiotics. Clinical assessments were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 217 patients were enrolled in this study. In patients with Crohn disease (CD), moderate or severe abdominal pain; prior use of methotrexate (MTX), iron, thiopurines, or biologics; history of IBD-related surgery; and stool frequency were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), moderate or severe abdominal pain, hematochezia, stool frequency, and moderate or severe physician global assessment score were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. Conclusion: Increased disease activity may be associated with fewer prescriptions of probiotics in patients with IBD. However, physicians prescribed probiotics to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain and increased stool frequency in patients with UC and CD, and hematochezia in patients with UC. Additionally, the use of MTX and iron, and a history of IBD-related surgeries were associated with more frequent probiotic prescriptions in patients with CD.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trunk exercises on the balancing ability of elderly Hansen's disease patients with lower extremity dysfunction. Method : A total of 24 elderly Hansen's disease patients were divided into two groups: 10 without lower extremity dysfunction and 14 with lower extremity dysfunction. The groups exercised for 60 minutes, two days a week, for a total 12 weeks; balancing ability was measured with the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test. The patients were tested and their results were compared both before and after the completion of their exercise programs. Lower extremity dysfunction was assessed according to the following criteria: unilateral foot-drop, toe-loss, and below-knee amputation. Results : After the exercises, participants in both groups showed a positive, statistically significant difference in balance, compared with before the exercises (the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test; p<.05). For comparison purposes, the group with dysfunction and the group without dysfunction were tested before and after the completion of their exercises. Before the exercises, there was a statistically significant difference in the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test (p<.05). However, after the exercises, there was no significant difference in the one leg standing test, tandem walking test, and timed up-and-go test (p>.05). Conclusion : Ultimately, balancing ability was improved in both of the groups after trunk exercises were performed. Although balancing ability was improved, elements of lower extremity dysfunction remained, such as unilateral foot-drop, toe-loss, and below-knee amputation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.297-304
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• 1998

Cigarette smoking is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has negative effects on blood lipid and lipoprotein . Some of the associations between smoking and chronic disease can be attributed to the less healthful lifestyles of smokers. A large body of epidemiologic evidence suggests inverse relationships between ischemic heart disease and plasma vitamin C and E concentrations . Smokers have lower plasma concentrations of these vitamins than do nonsmokers. Smokers therefore need antioxidant vitamin supplementation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect vitamin supplementation on plasma lipid patterns in smoking college men. 24subjects were divided into 3 groups of which were the vitamin C supplementation group (n=8), the vitamin E supplementation group(n=8) and the vitamin C+E supplementation group(n=8). The vitamin C supplementation group consumed 500mg of ascorbic acid, the vitamin E supplementation group consumed 200IU of D-$\alpha$-tocopherol, and the vitamin C+E supplementation group consumed 500mg of ascorbic acid+ 200IU of D-$\alpha$-tocopherol for 4 weeks. We examined the plasma lipid patterns before and after the vitamins were supplemented. The results obtained were as follows ; In the vitamin C supplementation group, the concentration of total cholesterol decreased significantly and HDL-cholesterol increased significantly with the supplementation of vitamin. In the vitamin E and vitamin C+E supplementation groups, however, there were no significant differences observed with the supplementation of vitamin. Concentration of plasma LDL, triglyceride, free fatty acid were not significantly affected by the supplementation of vitamin in all groups. In terms of plasma fatty acid composition, the concentrations of saturated fatty acid were not significantly affected by the supplementation of vitamin in all groups. The concentrations of palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, however, significantly increased in the vitamin E supplementation group(p<0.05). The concentration of plasma linoleic acid significantly increased in the vitamin C+ E supplementation group)(p<0.05). The results of this study show that antioxidant vitamin supplementation in smokers has a tendency to decrease coronary heart disease risk in view of the plasma total cholestrol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the vitamin C supplementation group and fatty acid concentration of the vitamin E supplementation group.