• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.445-449
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• 2017

The prevalence of Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae was investigated in ornamental fish purchased from a pet shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand, including Carassius auratus (goldfish), Cyprinus carpio (Koi), Poecilia latipinna (Sailfin Molly), Danio rerio (Zebrafish), and Puntigrus tetrazona (Tiger barb). The parasite species was identified by the morphology of worms as well as by a molecular approach using ITS2. The results showed that 50 (33.3%) of 150 fish examined were infected with the metacercariae. The highest prevalence was found in C. auratus (83.3%), and the highest intensity was noted in C. carpio (70.8 metacercariae/fish). The most important morphological character was the presence of 32-34 circumoral spines on the oral sucker. The phylogenetic studies using the rRNA ITS2 region revealed that all the specimens of C. formosanus in this study were grouped together with C. formosanus in GenBank database. This is the first report on ornamental fish, C. carpio, P. latipinna, D. rerio, and P. tetrazona, taking the role of second intermediate hosts of C. formosanus in Thailand. Prevention and control of metacercarial infection in ornamental fish is urgently needed.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

Smart wear integrates computing technology into fabric or a garment for additional functionality. This research explored the attitudes and opinions of the use of smart wear from the viewpoint of caregivers. Thirty two individuals including care providers of children and adult family members with health problems participated in focus group interviews. Participants reported being interested in smart wear because of the potential to detect the location (GPS) of a dependent (e.g., child, elderly) and to monitor vital signs. Participants indicated perceived advantages of smart wear such as identifying geographical location and effectiveness. Perceived concerns mentioned were privacy/security issues and accuracy of data. Participants taking care of dependents without a specific disease were hesitant to adopt and pay for smart wear. However, caregivers of elderly individuals expressed positive adoption intentions and willingness to reasonably pay for smart wear. They indicated expectations that potential insurance would provide coverage for cost savings. Caregivers expressed the need of specific requirements for future adoption such as customizability, and comfort/safety. Specific to smart wear clothing, most respondents preferred it be an undershirt or a jacket with a sensor located in the shoulder area. The findings from this study can be used in product development, promotion and marketing of smart wear.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.587-600
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of family resources on social exclusion and the resilience of low-income families. To be more specific, this study categorized the level of social exclusion into five dimensions: work, housing, health, education, and social participation. Further, family resources were categorized into the two dimensions of "internal resources of the family" and "external resources of the family" in order to evaluate the effects of the two differentiated dimensions on social exclusion and the resilience of low-income families. The data of low-income families for the period of August 23 to September 28, 2012, were collected from community welfare centers that manage individual development accounts and local self-sufficiency centers; 302 cases were considered. The main results of this study were as follows: firstly, the model analysis proved that family resources as a parameter was significant, not only statistically but also theoretically and practically. Secondly, while a negative relationship was found between social exclusion and family resources, a positive relationship was found between family resources and resilience. This implied that the alleviation of a low-income family's social exclusion level could become an important intervention for the improvement of the family's functioning and strengths. Further, it implied that the qualitative improvement of the family's resources that affected the promotion of the resilience could be a basis for another practical intervention. These results suggested crucial implications for the development of comprehensive policies for addressing poverty issues.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2003

Purpose: This study aims to determine the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in gastric cancer patients who received gastrectomies, and to compare the rates of H.pylori infection detected by serological test and that of histopathological test, and to evaluate its clinical meaning. Materials and Methods: Fifty two patients were selected from those who underwent gastrectomies at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, from March 1997 to May 1997. The control group consisted of healthy 103 persons visited the center for health promotion in Samsung Medical Center. In both groups, we quantitatively checked serum level of IgG anti H. pylori antibody titer by ELISA using GAP IgG test kit (BioRad, USA) for the serological test, and we microscopically examined the surgical specimen stained by Warthin-Starry silver staining method for the histopathological test. Results: The seropositive rate of H. pylori in the patients' group was $71.2\%$ (37/52), and the control group was $65.0\%$ (67/103). The difference between two groups was statistically significant. However the histopathological study showed that the overall detection rate of H. pylori was $61.5\%$ (32/52) in the patients' group and $61.2\%$ (63/103) in the control group; nd this difference was not statistically significant Conclusion: We could confirm that H.pylori infection rate in the gastric cancer resected patients was statistically higher than in the normal healthy persons even in small population. And the detection method for the H. pylori infection by serological test was presumed to be better than that of histopathological test using surgical specimen. Further study for the larger population by well-organized multicenters will be needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate metacercarial infections in the wrestling halfbeak, Dermogenys pusilla, collected from Bangkok metropolitan region of Thailand. A total of 4,501 fish from 78 study sites were commonly examined with muscle compression and digestion methods (only head part of fish) during September 2017 to July 2018. The overall prevalence of metacercarial infection was 86.1% (3,876/4,501 individuals), and the mean intensity was 48.9 metacercariae per fish infected. Four species, i.e., Posthodiplostomum sp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Cyathocotylidae fam. sp., and Centrocestus formosanus, of digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) were detected. The prevalences were 65.8%, 52.0%, 2.1%, and 1.2%, respectively and their mean intensities were 23.1, 51.6, 1.4, and 3.2 per fish infected, respectively. The seasonal prevalences were 81.0% in winter, 87.8% in summer and 87.4% in rainy, and the mean intensities were 38.9, 46.6, and 55.2 metacercariae per fish infected, respectively. Conclusively, it was confirmed that the wrestling halfbeak play the role of second intermediate hosts of 4 species of digenetic trematodes including S. falcatus and Posthodiplostomum sp. in Bangkok metropolitan region. And then the metacercariae of C. formosanus and Cyathocotylidae fam. sp. are to be first found in the wrestling halfbeak by this study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.313-318
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• 2019

In recent years, the taeniasis has been rarely reported in the Republic of Korea (Korea). But in this study, we intend to report 4 taeniasis cases caused by Taenia saginata during a 5-month period (February to June 2018) at a unversity hospital in Gwangju, Korea. Worm samples (proglottids) discharged from all cases were identified by phenotypic and molecular diagnostics. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences showed 99.4-99.9% identity with T. saginata but, differed by 4% from T. asiatica and by 7% from T. multiceps, respectively. We found that tapeworms in 2 cases (Cases 2 and 3) yielded exactly the same sequences between them, which differed from those in Cases 1 and 4, suggesting intra-species variation in tapeworms. These taeniasis cases by T. saginata infection in this study, which occurred within a limited time period and region, suggest the possibility of a mini-outbreak. This study highlights the need for further epidemiological investigation of potentially overlooked cases of T. saginata infection in Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.629-640
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• 2023

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver which is not a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Its global prevalence was estimated to be approximately 32% in the years 1994-2019. More than half of obese individuals and patients with diabetes are reported to have NAFLD as a comorbidity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) berry on insulin resistance and steatosis in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Methods: Six-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group received a diet consisting of 65% corn starch, while the fructose and experimental groups were fed a diet comprising 65% fructose (FRU) and an FRU diet containing 0.5% (low-dose autumn olive berry group; LAO) or 1.0% (high-dose autumn olive berry group; HAO) ethanol extract of autumn olive berry, respectively, for 10 weeks. Results: The HAO group exhibited significantly lower blood glucose levels compared to the fructose-fed group. Both the LAO and HAO groups showed a substantial reduction in serum insulin levels and insulin resistance when compared to the fructose-fed group. The consumption of LAO and HAO significantly ameliorated dyslipidemia and reduced the levels of triglycerides in the liver compared to the fructose-fed group. Additionally, the consumption of HAO resulted in lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities compared to the fructose group. The hepatic expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) was significantly reduced in the LAO and HAO groups compared to the fructose group. Conclusion: Autumn olive berries improved steatosis by ameliorating insulin resistance and down-regulating the lipogenesis proteins in rats fed on high fructose diet.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2010

Purpose: Visceral adipose tissue may be strongly linked to increased metabolic risks in adults. However, because little is known regarding the effect of visceral adipose tissue in children and adolescents, we performed this study to determine the association between abdominal fat distribution and metabolic risk factors in this population. Methods: One hundred one children and adolescents (78 males and 23 females; mean age, 10.8${\pm}$2.4 years) were enrolled. The anthropometric data and metabolic risk factors were evaluated. Theabdominal fat distribution was assessed according to the CT measurement. Age-adjusted, partial correlations were performed among the visceral adipose fat area (VFA), subcutaneous adiposefat area (SFA), metabolic risk factors, and anthropometrics. Results: The SFA increased more rapidly than the VFA with advancing years in both genders. In males, the VFA and SFA were positively correlated with anthropometrics. The VFA was correlated with low HDL-cholesterol and the SFA was correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However, there was no statistical significance between the VFA, SFA, anthropometrics, and other metabolic risk factors. The VFA and SFA were strongly linked to a number of metabolic risk factors, such as other anthropometrics. Conclusion: This study investigated how a low HDL-C was correlated with VFA and how a high DBP was associated with SFA in Korean male children and adolescents. Our results suggest that the correlation between the VFA, SFA, and metabolic risk factors was relatively weak compared to that reported in previous adult studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2001

Objective : For the purpose of preparing the fundamental data and health promotion and control program on organic solvents in air of manufacturing industry. Methods : The author surveyed number of organic solvent components which was used in working site and also determined the organic solvents concentration in air of 927 manufacturing industries and 1,267 working process with gas chromatography(NIOSH manual) for five years from 1995 to 1999. Results : Mean number of solvents components by type of industry, working process was number of 12. There were exceeded to TLV of 1,2-dichloroethane in textile manufacturing industry N,N-dimethyl furan in tanning and dressing of leather ; luggage, handbags, saddlery, harness and footwear manufacturing industry and chemical and chemical product manufacturing industry by type of industry. There were exceeded to TLV of 1,2-dichloroethane in handwriting and drawing process, cellosolve in adhesive spreading process, N,N-dimethly furan in production of solvent process and adhesion process by working process Total exceeded rate to threshold limit values of organic solvents mixture were 12.9% for EI(Exposure index) and 10.0% for Em(Estimation of mixture) by type of industry, 11.3% for EI and 8.2% for Em by type of working process. The highest exceed rate was 36.7% for EI in tanning and dressing of leather ; luggage handbags, saddlery, harness and footwear manufacturing industry and 29.0% for Em in textile manufacturing industry. The highest exceeded rate was 23.1% for EI and 12.5% for Em in adhesive spreading process by working process. Mean values of total subjects by type of industry and type of working process were $0.7{\pm}1.8$ for EI and $0.7{\pm}1.7$ for Em respectively. Conclusions : As above results, the author suggest that it makes the environmental control program on 1.2-dichloroethane, N,N-dimethyl furan, cellosolve by kind of organic solvent and on textile manufacturing industry, tanning and dressing of leather ; luggage, handbags, saddlery harness and footwear manufacturing industry by type of industry, and on handwriting, drawing process and adhesive spreading process and adhesion process by type of working process.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.59-67
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• 2015

Purpose - The number of consumers adopting a lifestyle of health and sustainability has recently increased with the rise of trends in healthy living. The size of the organic agricultural product market has also increased given that these consumers prefer consuming environmentally friendly products that promote family health. However, awareness of organic agricultural products remains insufficient because of the characteristics of the Korean organic agriculture system, which only focuses on food safety inspection. The object of this research is to suggest a policy approach to increase understanding and to expand the purchasing of organic agricultural products by analyzing the influence of customer recognition of such products on their willingness to repurchase. Research design, data, and methodology - This study used binomial logistic regression analysis with the aim of explaining the effects of consumers' socio-demographic characteristics, their awareness of the equivalence arrangement for organic food and of the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, and their viewing of negative broadcasts about organic agricultural products on their repurchase intention of such products. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 655 respondents who were in their 20s, lived either in Seoul or in its metropolitan area, and had purchased organic agricultural products. Result - From the results of the analysis, the majority of the respondents recognized organic agricultural products, but they found their prices to be expensive. The majority of the respondents were also aware of the certification system and the reliability of organic agricultural products. However, the results indicate that efforts need to be made to recover consumer trust as many respondents stated that their trust levels in these products were low. In general, those purchasing organic agricultural products were satisfied, but those answering "very satisfied" were not in the majority. Binomial logistic regression analysis results revealed that repurchase intention decreased as consumers viewed a greater number of negative broadcasts about these products. On the other hand, repurchase intention increased as they became more aware of the abolishment of low-pesticide certification. Repurchase intention also increased as income increased, as the number of family members decreased, and when a consumer was a member of a consumer organization. In addition, the older the consumers were who watched the TV programs, the smaller the number of family members that were aware of the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification and, the higher the income of the consumers aware of organic equivalence arrangement, the greater their repurchase intention. Conclusion - External stimuli, such as negative TV programs on organic agricultural products and the abolishment of the low-pesticide agricultural product certification, relevant social issues and systems, influence consumer repurchase intention. To that end, positive environmental and ecological broadcasting about organic agricultural products would contribute to an increase in purchasing. Additionally, this could be used for promotion and marketing plans as the results indicate that trust in organic agricultural products would cause a positive repurchasing effect.