• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.477-484
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the association between the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque and cardiovascular risk factors according to gender and age. Methods : The data used for this study were obtained from 1,507 subjects (691 men, 816 women), aged 20-74 years, who participated in 'Prevalence study of thyroid diseases' in two counties of Jeollanam-do Province during July and August of 2004. The body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were calculated by anthropometry The blood pressure, pulse rate, pulse pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and fasting blood sugar level were also measured. Ultrasonography was used to measure the carotid artery IMT and plaque. IMT measurements were performed at 6 sites, including both common carotid arteries, and the bulb and internal carotid arteries. The definition of the 'mean IMT' was mean value obtained from these 6 sites. Results : The ${\pm}$ standard deviation IMT values were $0.65{\pm}0.14\;and\;0.60{\pm}0.13mm$ in men and women (p<0.001), respectively. The data were analyzed according to gender and the 50 year age groups. In a multiple linear regression analysis, age and hypertension were positively associated with the mean IMT in both men and women, aged<50 years. Age, total cholesterol and smoking (current) were positively associated with the mean IMT in men $(\geq50\;years)$. Age was positively associated with the mean IMT in women $(\geq50\;years)$, but the HDL cholesterol level was negatively associated. The prevalence of plaques was 44.2%(196/443) in men and 19.4%(89/459) in women, for those greater than 50 years of age. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.090, 95%CI=1.053-1.129), HDL cholesterol (OR=0.964, 95%CI=0.944-0.984), total cholesterol (OR=1.009, 95%CI=1.002-1.017)and BMI (OH=0.896, 95%CI=0.818-0.983) were independently associated with plaques in men; whereas, age (OR=1.057, 95%CI=1.012-1.103), HDL cholesterol (OR=0.959, 95%CI=0.932-0.986), pulse pressure (OR=1.029, 95%CI=1.007-1.050) and triglycerides (OR=0.531, 95%CI=0.300-0.941) were independently associated with plaques in women. Conclusions: There were significant gender and aging differences in the association between the IMT, plaque and cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, for the prevention of atherosclerosis, selective approaches should be considered with regard to gender and age factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7327-7331
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• 2014

Background: We had previously showed that the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are prognostic factors for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. In this study we developed a prognostic model based on these three indices. Materials and Methods: A total of 243 patients who were initially diagnosed as mCRC between 2005 and 2010 in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were studied. The endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: NLR>3, elevated GGT and elevated CEA were confirmed as independent risk factors which could predict poor prognosis. Patients could be divided into three groups according to the number of risk factors they had. Those with two or three were defined as the high risk group, individuals with one risk factor as the modest risk group and patients without risk factor as the low risk group. The OS values for these three groups were 16.2 months (2.80~68.8), 24.2 months (4.07~79.0), and 37.2 months (12.6~87.8), respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions: We developed a simple but useful model based on NLR, GGT and CEA to provide prognostic information to clinical practice in highly selected mCRC patients. Further prospective and multi-center studies are warranted to test our model.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Purpose: With feasibility in the diagnoses of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the antenatal period, we suspect changes have occurred in its incidence. No data have been reported about the current incidence of simple forms of CHD in Korea. We have attempted to assess the recent incidence and characteristics of CHD in the neonatal care unit of a secondary referral medical center. Methods: Medical records of 497 neonatal care unit patients who underwent echocardiography in the past 5 years were reviewed. Preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus and other transient, minimal lesions were excluded from this study. Results: Although the number of inpatients remained stable, the incidence of simple forms of CHD showed a gradual decrease over the 5-year study period; a markedly low incidence of complex forms was seen as well. CHD was observed in 3.7% full-term and 6.8% pre-term infants. CHD was observed in 152 infants weighing >2,500 g (3.5% of corresponding birth weight infants); 65 weighing 1,000 to 2,500 g (9.3%); and 6 weighing <1,000 g (8.0%). The incidence of CHD was higher in the pre-term group and the low birth weight group than in each corresponding subgroup (P<0.001); however, the incidence of complex CHD in full-term neonates was high. The number of patients with extracardiac structural anomalies has also shown a gradual decrease every year for the past 5 years. Conclusion: Findings from our study suggest that the recent incidence and disease pattern of CHD might have changed for both complex and simple forms of CHD in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.901-909
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• 2003

This study was conducted to devise a scheme for the development of foods designated as Yookmee (“6 dishes), which are representative food of Daejeon area. The Yookmee consist of Seolleongtang(ox bone soup and boiled rice), Samgyetang (chicken stew stuffed with glutinous rice and ginseng), Dolsotbap (boiled rice mixed with vegetables), Goojeukmook (acorn jelly), Sootgol-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles with broth) and Daecheongho minmulgogi-maeuntang (spicy hot freshwater fish soup). A questionnaire was developed and administered by means of an interview regarding the subjects' recognition of and preference for the six dishes, their usual eating places and eating frequencies, the need for some standardization of recipes and for nutrition labeling including serving sizes and nutrient content. The total number of subjects who participated in this study were 328 (male 112, female 216) living in Daejeon. The subjects who were aware of the presence of Yookmee were more in their thirties or older (15%) compared to those in their twenties (9.6%) The percentages of the subjects who recognized the Yookmee as the representative foods were twice among those in their thirties (over 60%), as compared to 31.5% in their twenties (p<0.001). Samgyetang was one of the favorite foods of all the Yookmee among those in their twenties and Goojeukmook was the favorite for all the other age groups. The incidence of those eating one of Yookmee more than once a month was 51.5% in all the age groups, but the intake frequency was lower among those in their twenties (43.8%). The percentage of those who recommended Yookmee as a food for guests was the highest among those in their fifties (54.7%). The first reason why the subjects do not recommend these foods was because they were unfamiliar with Yookmee; among those in their thirties and forties the 2nd reason was because it is not much enough in quality or quantity to be served as a food for guests. Over 60% of the subjects felt the need for standardization of Yookmee, recipes for especially those in their fifties did feel the needs (92.5%). Furthemore, regarding labeling of sowing sizes and nutrients contents, over 80% of the subjects wanted these, and this desire tended to increase with age. From these results, it seems reasonable to accept Yookmee as the representative foods of Daejeon, despite the fact that many people do not yet currently do so. Since most of the subjects (85.4%) partake Yookmee outside of their homes, it is recommended that efforts need to be expanded on enhancing the nutritional quality, the taste and the quality control of Yookmee by standardizing the recipes, labeling the serving sizes and nutrient contents, and providing educational and publicity programs.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.526-546
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• 2001

Fiber-reinforced composite(FRC) was developed as a structural component for dental appliances such as prosthodontic framework. FRC provides the potential for fabrication of a metal-free, excellent esthetic prostheses. It has demonstrated success as a result of its simple fabrication, natural colour, and marginal integrity, and fracture resistance of veneering composite resin and the FRC material. Although it has lots of merits, clinical and objective data are insufficient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength and the marginal fitness of fiber reinforced composite bridge in the posterior region for clinical application. Sixteen bridges of each group. $Targis/Vectris^{(R)}$, $Sculpture-Fibrekor^{(R)}$, and In-Ceram, were fabricated. All specimens were cemented with Panavia 21 to the master dies. Strength evaluation was accomplished by a universal testing machine (Instron). The marginal fitness was measured by using the stereoscope (${\times}50$). The results were as follows. : 1. The fracture strength according to the materials was significantly decreased in order In-Ceram($238.81{\pm}82$), Targis Vectris($176.25{\pm}18.93$), Sculpture-Fibrekor($120.35{\pm}20.08$) bridges. 2. FRC resin bridges were not completely fractured, while In-Ceram bridges were completely fractured in the pontic joint. 3. The marginal accuracy was significantly decreased in order Targis/Vectris ($60.71{\mu}m$), Sculpture-Fibrekor($73.10{\mu}m$) In-ceram Bridge ($83.81{\mu}m$). 4. The fitness of occlusal sites had a lower value than the marginal sites(P<0.001), and the marginal gaps of inner site of the pontic were greater than that of outer sites of the pontic. Fiber reinforced composite bridges are new, esthetic prosthesis and can be clinically used in anterior regions and short span bridges. However, caution must be exercised when extrapolating laboratory data to the clinical situation because there are no long term clinical data regarding the overall success of the FRC.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.386-391
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• 2017

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is an ethnopharmacological plant that is traditionally used to improve the body's immune functions and ameliorate the symptoms of various diseases. However, the antitumorigenic effects of KRG and its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are not fully understood in terms of its individual components. In this study, in vitro and in vivo antitumorigenic activities of KRG were explored in water extract (WE), saponin fraction (SF), and nonsaponin fraction (NSF). Methods: In vitro antitumorigenic activities of WE, SF, and NSF of KRG were investigated in the C6 glioma cell line using cytotoxicity, migration, and proliferation assays. The underlying molecular mechanisms of KRG fractions were determined by examining the signaling cascades of apoptotic cell death by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The in vivo antitumorigenic activities of WE, SF, and NSF were investigated in a xenograft mouse model. Results: SF induced apoptotic death of C6 glioma cells and suppressed migration and proliferation of C6 glioma cells, whereas WE and NSF neither induced apoptosis nor suppressed migration of C6 glioma cells. SF downregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and upregulated the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) in C6 glioma cells but had no effect on the expression of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene. Moreover, SF treatment resulted in activation of caspase-3 as evidenced by increased levels of cleaved caspase-3. Finally, WE, SF, and NSF exhibited in vivo antitumorigenic activities in the xenograft mouse model by suppressing the growth of grafted CT-26 carcinoma cells without decreasing the animal body weight. Conclusion: These results suggest that WE, SF, and NSF of KRG are able to suppress tumor growth via different molecular and cellular mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis and activation of immune cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Backgrounds : In 2017, National Health Insurance implemented the pilot insuring project for Chuna manual therapy(CMT). 65 Korean Medicine(KM) hospitals and clinics were selected in the project to monitor the provision of insured CMT. Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CMT for low back pain provided in the real world setting. Methods : Patients with low back pain who agreed to participated in the study were enrolled and requested to complete questionnaires. Patients who received CMT regardless of receiving other KM therapies were classified to Chuna group, and patient who received KM therapies without CMT to KM group. Pain(pain-VAS) and back function(KODI, Oswestry disability index-Korean version), quality of life were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Additionally, patients who received CMT twice and more, and who's pain-VAS 20 and over were included, and patients who used pain injection were excluded in the analysis. Results : Of 371 patients who completed all questionnaire (mean age=42.6years, SD=12.45; 61% female), 96 were excluded, 170 were in Chuna group, and 105 were in KM group. Proportions of patients who had low back pain for more than twelve weeks in the Chuna group and KM group were 57.7% and 24.8%, respectively. Pain and back function were significantly improved on 4weeks and 8weeks in both groups, but there was no difference between two groups. For the patients in the sub-acute and chronic stage(>=12 weeks), change of total KODI scores in the Chuna group was higher than KM group(p=0.013) at 4weeks. Conclusions : CMT with other KM therapies can improve back function in the sub-acute and chronic patients. For insurance policy decision, economic evaluation of CMT is needed.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) with genetic origin is common (1/2000 births). ARNSHL can be associated with mutations in gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2). To this end, this cohort investigation aimed to find the contribution of GJB2 gene mutations with the genotype-phenotype correlations in 45 ARNSHL cases in the Kurdish population. Subjects and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from a total of 45 ARNSHL families. The linkage analysis with 3 short tandem repeat markers linked to GJB2 was performed on 45 ARNSHL families. Only 9 of these families were linked to the DFNB1 locus. All the 45 families who took part were sequenced for confirmation linkage analysis (to perform a large project). Results: A total of three different mutations were determined. Two of which [c.35delG and c.-23+1G>A (IVS1+1G>A)] were previously reported but (c.299-300delAT) mutation was novel in the Kurdish population. The homozygous pathogenic mutations of GJB2 gene was observed in nine out of the 45 families (20%), also heterozygous genotype (c.35delG/N)+(c.-23+1G>A/c.-23+1G>A) were observed in 4/45 families (8.8%). The degree of hearing loss (HL) in patients with other mutations was less severe than patients with c.35delG homozygous mutation (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our data suggest that GJB2 mutations constitute 20% of the etiology of ARNSHL in Iran; moreover, the c.35delG mutation is the most common HL cause in the Kurdish population. Therefore, these mutations should be included in the molecular testing of HL in this population.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) with genetic origin is common (1/2000 births). ARNSHL can be associated with mutations in gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2). To this end, this cohort investigation aimed to find the contribution of GJB2 gene mutations with the genotype-phenotype correlations in 45 ARNSHL cases in the Kurdish population. Subjects and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from a total of 45 ARNSHL families. The linkage analysis with 3 short tandem repeat markers linked to GJB2 was performed on 45 ARNSHL families. Only 9 of these families were linked to the DFNB1 locus. All the 45 families who took part were sequenced for confirmation linkage analysis (to perform a large project). Results: A total of three different mutations were determined. Two of which [c.35delG and c.-23+1G>A (IVS1+1G>A)] were previously reported but (c.299-300delAT) mutation was novel in the Kurdish population. The homozygous pathogenic mutations of GJB2 gene was observed in nine out of the 45 families (20%), also heterozygous genotype (c.35delG/N)+(c.-23+1G>A/c.-23+1G>A) were observed in 4/45 families (8.8%). The degree of hearing loss (HL) in patients with other mutations was less severe than patients with c.35delG homozygous mutation (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our data suggest that GJB2 mutations constitute 20% of the etiology of ARNSHL in Iran; moreover, the c.35delG mutation is the most common HL cause in the Kurdish population. Therefore, these mutations should be included in the molecular testing of HL in this population.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2005

Purpose: The maximal elastance ($E_{max}$) of myocardium has been established as a reliable load-independent contractility index. Recently, we developed a noninvasive method to measure the regional contractility using gated myocardial SPECT and arterial tonometry data. In this study, we measured regional $E_{max}(rE_{max}$ in the patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and assessed its relationship with other variables. Materials and Methods: 21 patients (M:F=17:4, $58{\pm}12$ y) who underwent CABG were enrolled. $^{201}TI$ rest/dipyridamole stress $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi gated SPECT were performed before and 3 months after CABG. For 15 myocardial regions, regional time-elastance curve was obtained using the pressure data of tonometry and the volume data of gated SPECT. To investigate the coupling with myocardial function, preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was compared with regional perfusion and systolic thickening. In addition, the correlation between $E_{max}$ and viability was assessed in dysfunctional segments (thickening <20% before CABG). The viability was defined as improvement of postoperative systolic thickening more than 10%. Results: Regional $E_{max}$ was slightly increased after CABG from $2.41{\pm}1.64 (pre)\;to\;2.78{\pm}1.83 (post)$ mmHg/ml. $E_{max}$ had weak correlation with perfusion and thickening (r=0.35, p<0.001). In the regions of preserved perfusion (${\geq}60%$), $E_{max}$ was $2.65{\pm}1.67$, while it was $1.30{\pm}1.24$ in the segments of decreased perfusion. With regard to thickening, $E_{max}$ was $3.01{\pm}1.92$ mmHg/ml for normal regions (thickening ${geq}40%$), $2.40{\pm}1.19$ mmHg/ml for mildly dysfunctional regions (<40% and ${\geq}20%$), and $1.13{\pm}0.89$ mmHg/ml for severely dysfunctional regions (<20%). $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG in both the viable (from $1.27{\pm}1.07\;to\;1.79{\pm}1.48$ mmHg/ml) and non-viable segments (from $0.97 {\pm}0.59\;to\;1.22{\pm}0.71$ mmHg/ml), but there was no correlation between $E_{max}$ and thickening improvements (r=0.007). Conclusions: Preoperative regional $E_{max}$ was relatively concordant with regional perfusion and systolic thickening on gated myocardial SPECT. In dysfunctional but viable segments, $E_{max}$ was improved after CABG, but showed no correlation with thickening improvement. As a load-independent contractility index of dysfunctional myocardial segments, we suggest that the regional $E_{max}$ could be an independent parameter in the assessment of myocardial function.