• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.213-234
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• 2023

Objectives: To investigate current status of randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) registration for suicide attempters. Methods: The World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP) was used to search for data using 'suicide' as a search term. All registration information of RCTs registered up to April 2023 were collected. Results: Among a total of 68 RCTs registered, the United States ranked the highest in terms of quantity in this field (n=30, 46.15%), whereas Asia had only six (8.82%). A total of 62 (91.18%) RCTs involved individual interventions, while nine (13.24%) RCTs involved group interventions. Among individual interventions, 11 (16.18%) and 54 (79.41%) RCTs were on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, respectively. Within psychotherapy, there were a total of 17 (25%) studies utilizing digital media, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) via phone being the most common approach. Among non-digital media-based studies, CBT was used the most frequently (n=11, 16.18%), followed by attempted suicide short intervention program (n=6, 8.82%). There were no studies using interventions from East Asian traditional medicine, including Korean medicine (KM). The most frequently used main outcome was the Beck scale for suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Studies on suicide attempts in Asia, especially in South Korea, are very scarce. Despite vigorous psychotherapeutic research in this field, KM psychotherapy has not been used. Thus, KM clinical trial for suicide attempters might be planned in the future based on our findings.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to bring new light on TalYeong-SilJeong (exhaustion of Yeonggi and loss of Essence) through the verification of both the original intention of Hwangjenaegyeong and the conceptual variation afterwards. Methods: Of various East Asian medical texts, those inferring to TalYeong-SilJeong includeing Hwangjenaegyeong itself were closely examined under the aspect of its conception. Results: TalYeong-SilJeong was suggested as the first representative tool and accurate diagnostic method of questioning in order to determine the mental state of a patient. However, medical scholars have suggested different levels of meaning. Some used the term for the broad coverage of mental illnesses, understanding Hwangjenaegyeong's discrimination as symbolic gesture, while others projected an unchallenged value on it and weaved it into the concrete set of a disease. Conclusions: The treatment of TalYeong-SilJeong is suggested according to the varying viewpoints of each medical text. By understanding multiple layers of the conception beyond, a clinician is expected to gain an exuberant image of conception on the one hand and an insight for more effective treatment on the other hand.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2013

Objective : Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen has been used by East Asian doctors who approved efficient clinical effects of it since the early stage of medical history. It is commonly used for lifestyle related diseases including stroke in recent days thanks to the increasing number of manufacturers. However, products from pharmaceutical companies as well as food companies are not classified as Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen but Bamboo vinegar. This study aims to discern disparate manufacturing process. Methods : In this study, original texts were searched to corroborate the correct method to produce Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen. It is essential to inspect the original texts thoroughly in the course of modernizing traditional knowledge. Result : Discrimination between the two substances starts from manufacturing process; Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen is made under the temperature of less then $170^{\circ}C$, containing mild fragrance and sweet taste, and the Bamboo vinegar over $170^{\circ}C$ upto $400^{\circ}C$, carrying strong smoky scent and acidness. Although some researches show conforming clinical actions of both products, still there is a possibility that closer clinical study would reveal their discrepancy. Conclusion : Current use of Bambusae vinegar needs speculation. Authenticity in proper manufacturing process can be attained through passed-on medical texts.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2020

Carex splendentissima U. Kang & J. M. Chung, endemic to the Korean peninsula, is characterized by staminate terminal spikes and glabrous elliptic perigynia. Based on its broad leaves, androgynous spikes, and tri-stigmatic features, the species has been placed in Carex sect. Siderostictae Franch. ex Ohwi, an East Asian section and a basal group in the genus. To clarify the monophyly and phylogenetic position of the species, a molecular study using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA (trnL-F) data was conducted. The DNA sequence data of ten taxa in sect. Siderostictae and closely related taxa (two taxa in sect. Surculosae) with outgroups were analyzed based on maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood (ML) criteria. In the analyses, C. splendentissima was monophyletic and placed within the Siderostictae clade (sect. Siderostictae + two species of sect. Surculosae), forming a clade with C. ciliatomarginata and C. pachygyna (endemic to Japan). The clade (C. splendentissima + C. ciliatomarginata + C. pachygyna) shows evidence of diploidy. Furthermore, C. splendentissima is a sister to C. ciliatomarginata in the ML tree, and the two taxa have staminate terminal spikes. This study also updates the distribution of C. splendentissima and provides keys to the four Korean taxa in sect. Siderostictae. To conserve the endemic species C. splendentissima, further research on its genetic and ecological features should be conducted at the population level.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2019

Ecklonia cava (EC) has been widely utilized as an ingredient in commercial products such as functional foods and cosmeceuticals. Recently it has been found that Sargassum horneri (SH) has been invading on Jeju Island coast area by its huge blooming. Moreover, both seaweeds are considering as important ingredients in traditional medicine specifically in East-Asian countries (China, Japan, and Korea). In the present study, we attempted to compare anti-inflammatory properties of 70% ethanolic extracts of EC (ECE), SH (SHE), and their different combinations on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Results indicated that 8 : 2 combinations of ECE : SHE significantly inhibited LPS-activated inflammatory responses (cytokines, protein, and gene expression) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells compared to the respective extracts and other combinations. The synergistic effect of ECE and SHE was found to be prominent than the effects of ECE or SHE alone. These observations provide useful information for the industrial formulation of functional materials (functional foods and cosmeceuticals) using these two particular seaweeds in Jeju Island of South Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.445-452
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• 2004

Genetic diversity of sub-Saharan African goats was assessed using 19 microsatellite markers. Breeds were sampled from eastern Africa (Maasai, Kigezi, Mubende, North West Highland, Arsi-Bale), southern Africa (Ndebele, Pafuri) and West Africa (West African Dwarf, Maure, Djallonke). European breeds (Grisons Striped, Toggenburg), Asian breeds (Mongolian Cashmere, Bandipur) and a Middle East breed (Arab) were also included. The mean number of alleles per locus and average gene diversity ranged from 5.26$\pm$0.464 (Djallonke) to 7.05$\pm$0.516 (Mubende) and from 0.542$\pm$0.036 (Pafuri) to 0.672$\pm$0.031 (Ndebele), respectively. The between breeds variation evaluated using $$G_{ST}$$ and $\theta$ were found to account for 14.6% ($\theta$) and 15.7% ($$G_{ST}$$) of the total genetic variation. The $D_{A}$ measure of genetic distance between pairs of breeds indicated that the largest genetic distance was between Pafuri and Djallonke while the lowest genetic distance was between Arsi-Bale and North West Highland. A neighbour-joining tree of breed relationships revealed that the breeds were grouped according to their geographic origins. Principal component analysis supported the grouping of the breeds according to their geographic origins. It was concluded that the relationships of sub-Saharan African goat breeds were according to their geographical locations implying that the goats of eastern Africa, West Africa and southern Africa are genetically distinct. Within each sub-region, goat populations could be differentiated according to morphological characteristics.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.489-504
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined socio-economic differences in diverse food consumption among children 6-23 months of age in South Asia and Southeast Asian countries. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys in four countries in South Asia (n = 15,749) and four countries in Southeast Asia (n = 10,789) were used. Survey-design adjusted proportions were estimated for the following 10 food items: grains, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV), vitamin A-rich fruits, vitamin A-rich vegetables, other fruits and vegetables (OFV), fish, meat, dairy, and eggs. An equity gap was defined as an arithmetic difference in the proportion of each food item consumed in the past 24-hours between the wealthiest and lowest quintiles and between rural and urban areas, denoted by percentage points (pp). RESULTS: The consumption of most of the 10 food items was higher in the wealthiest quintiles and urban areas across eight countries. The size of equity gaps was greater in Southeast Asia than in South Asia, particularly for vitamin A-rich fruits (3.3-30.0 pp vs. 0.3-19.6 pp), vitamin A-rich vegetables (12.1-26.7 pp vs. 2.4-5.9 pp), meat (17.7-33.4 pp vs. 3.4-13.4 pp), and dairy (14.7-32.5 pp vs. 3.3-11.4 pp). However, the size of equity gap in egg consumption was greater in Southeast Asia than South Asia (11.2-19.8 pp vs. 11.0-26.7 pp). Relatively narrower gaps were seen in the consumption of grains (0.3-12.9 pp), DGLV (0.6-12.4 pp), and fish (0.1-16.8 pp) across all countries. CONCLUSIONS: Equity gaps in food consumption differed by socio-economic status and region. Reducing equity gaps in nutrient-rich foods and utilizing regionally available food resources may increase child dietary quality.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2014

Haw (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) has been used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments such as obesity and digestive trouble in Far East countries, including Korea. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of feral haw on hepatic functional enzymes in dyslipidemic rats. Four groups of male rats (Sprague Dawley strain) were fed different diets for 5 weeks: NND (normal-nondyslipidemic diet) group, NNDH (normal-nondyslipidemic diet + haw extract) group, CDD (control-dyslipidemic diet) group and DDH (dyslipidemic diet + haw extract) group. ALP (alkaline phosphatase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) activities were significantly higher in the CDD group than the NND group. However, haw extract supplement significantly reduced hepatic functional enzyme activities compared to the CDD group. Lipid deposition of the DDH group decreased compared to the CDD group. The size of adipose tissue decreased significantly in the DDH group compared to the CDD group. These results suggest that feral haw could be used as a food resource and functional food material.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2015

Clonorchis sinensis habitating in the bile duct of mammals causes clonorchiasis endemic in East Asian countries. Parkin is a RING-between-RING protein and has E3-ubiquitin ligase activity catalyzing ubiquitination and degradation of substrate proteins. A cDNA clone of C. sinensis was predicted to encode a polypeptide homologous to parkin (CsParkin) including 5 domains (Ubl, RING0, RING1, IBR, and RING2). The cysteine and histidine residues binding to $Zn^{2+}$ were all conserved and participated in formation of tertiary structural RINGs. Conserved residues were also an E2-binding site in RING1 domain and a catalytic cysteine residue in the RING2 domain. Native CsParkin was determined to have an estimated molecular weight of 45.7 kDa from C. sinensis adults by immunoblotting. CsParkin revealed E3-ubiquitin ligase activity and higher expression in metacercariae than in adults. CsParkin was localized in the locomotive and male reproductive organs of C. sinensis adults, and extensively in metacercariae. Parkin has been found to participate in regulating mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in mammalian cells. From these results, it is suggested that CsParkin play roles in energy metabolism of the locomotive organs, and possibly in protein metabolism of the reproductive organs of C. sinensis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.37.1-37.7
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• 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) facilitated the discovery of countless disease-associated variants. However, GWASs have mostly been conducted in European ancestry samples. Recent studies have reported that these European-based association results may reduce disease prediction accuracy when applied in non-Europeans. Therefore, previously reported variants should be validated in non-European populations to establish reliable scientific evidence for precision medicine. In this study, we validated known associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and related metabolic traits in 125,850 samples from a Korean population genotyped by the Korea Biobank Array (KBA). At the end of December 2020, there were 8,823 variants associated with glycemic traits, lipids, liver enzymes, and T2D in the GWAS catalog. Considering the availability of imputed datasets in the KBA genome data, publicly available East Asian T2D summary statistics, and the linkage disequilibrium among the variants (r² < 0.2), 2,900 independent variants were selected for further analysis. Among these, 1,837 variants (63.3%) were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Most of the non-replicated variants (n = 1,063) showed insufficient statistical power and decreased minor allele frequencies compared with the replicated variants. Moreover, most of known variants showed <10% genetic heritability. These results could provide valuable scientific evidence for future study designs, the current power of GWASs, and future applications in precision medicine in the Korean population.