• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2018

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as the dilation of a segment of a coronary vessel to at least 1.5 times the diameter of its normal adjacent segment. Mean platelet volume (MPV) plays a role in acute coronary syndromes, with high MPV correlating to poor prognosis for acute thrombotic events and CAE. Several studies investigated the relationship between MPV and CAE, resulting in conflicting results. These results led us to systematically review all studies investigating the relationship between MPV and ectatic heart diseases by performing a meta-analysis study in order to report a unified result. This meta-analysis study investigated all case-control articles examining the relationship between MPV and CAE. All studies in the following databases published until January 31, 2018, were investigated: Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Following a quality control evaluation, 14 articles, all of which were published following studies performed in Turkey from 2007 to 2016, met the criteria for study inclusion. After pooling the results from all of the articles, a total standardized mean difference (SMD) value of 0.584 (95% CI, 0.219, 0.95) was obtained using the D+L pooled SMD, indicating a significant difference (P=0.002) between the two groups, with higher MPV values in ectatic patients when comparing to healthy individuals. Therefore, increased MPV levels were significantly related to CAE, suggesting that platelets, with their inflammatory and thrombotic activities, play a role in this disease. Therefore, anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory therapies may be effective in treating CAE.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Inflammation plays an important role in the outcome of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It may develop due to cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein dysfunction, pancreatic insufficiency, or prolonged pulmonary infection. Fecal calprotectin (FC) has been used as a noninvasive method to detect inflammation. Therefore, the aim of the current meta-analysis was to investigate the relationship between FC and phenotype severity in patients with CF. In this study, searches were conducted in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Embase databases up to August 2021 using terms such as "cystic fibrosis," "intestine," "calprotectin," and "inflammation." Only articles published in English and human studies were selected. The primary outcome was the level of FC in patients with CF. The secondary outcome was the relationship between FC and clinical severity. Statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Of the initial 303 references, only six articles met the inclusion criteria. The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) level of FC was 256.5 mg/dL (114.1-398.9). FC levels were significantly associated with pancreatic insufficiency (mean, 243.02; 95% CI, 74.3 to 411.6; p=0.005; I²=0), pulmonary function (r=-0.39; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.15; p=0.002; I²=60%), body mass index (r=-0.514; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.69; p<0.001; I²=0%), and Pseudomonas colonization (mean, 174.77; 95% CI, 12.5 to 337.02; p=0.035; I²=71%). While FC is a reliable noninvasive marker for detecting gastrointestinal inflammation, it is also correlated with the severity of the disease in patients with CF.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2021

Purpose: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is the most common cause of gastric obstruction in newborns. Extra-mucosal pyloromyotomy can be performed through a small laparotomy or laparoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the two surgical techniques. We also analyzed the incidence of HPS in infants in the last 10 years in relation to the demographic trend of our province. Methods: We analyzed all the cases of HPS treated at our Unit between January 2010 and December 2019. The data were obtained from operating systems. Data about the demographic trends, in particular, the number of births and the population residing in the province of Verona from 2010 to 2019, were also retrieved. Results: During the study period, 60 patients were treated for HPS and met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 56 males and 4 females with an average age of 38±14 days at surgery were included. No differences were found in terms of the duration of surgery, post-operative complications, duration of hospitalization, and weight at the time of surgery. The only statistically significant data was the chlorine level in cases with and without post-operative vomiting (97±3.5 vs. 102±3.3 mmol/L, p<0.05). There was a lower incidence of HPS from 2014 to 2019; however, there was no significant evidence regarding the correlation between this and the reduced birth rate recorded in the province of Verona during the same period. Conclusion: Although laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is a highly complex procedure, it is a feasible alternative to the classic open technique.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of natural product-based products for sleep improvement in Korean patents, to enhance the development and application of natural-products for sleep disorder in terms of Korean medicine. Methods: We collected patent data using the KIPRIS database and ScienceON database. Two authors independently screened patents that potentially met the criteria, and assessed full texts of screened patents for eligibility. Included patents were analyzed, quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Results: A total of 60 patents were selected 2008-July 2022. The number of patents have been on the rise since 2017, and reached 12 in 2018. Companies have registered the most patents, followed by the Industry-University Cooperation Foundation. Zizyphi semen (n=6), Lactuca sativa L. (n=5), Valeriana fauriei/officinalis (n=4), Poria cocos (n=4) were frequently used herbs among 60 patents. Twenty-one patents (35%) included medicinal herbs with sleep improving effects. Among 60 patents, alcohol extraction (70%) was mostly used, followed by water immersion (50%), and hot water extraction (48.3%). Conclusions: Analysis results showed that various Korean medicine herbs, are being used for natural-products for sleep disorder. The results will be helpful towards inventing new patents using Korean medicine, developing natural product extracts for sleep improvement, and extending the range of these products in clinical use.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2021

C-11 Radiolabeled amino acid-based radiopharmaceuticals such as [¹¹C]MET for brain tumor PET imaging have limitations due to their short half-life (20 min). F-18 radiolabeled amino acid derivatives have been developed to overcome for the short half-life, one of which is [¹⁸F]FET. Brain tumor imaging using [¹⁸F]FET showed high uptake in tumor region and no non-specific uptake in inflammatory tissue, which was useful in discriminating the difference between inflammation and tumor especially. In this study, [¹⁸F]FET was synthesized using an automatic synthesis module and quality tests were carried out including enantiomeric purity analysis with reference compounds. Radiochemical yield was 50.3 ± 4.9% (n=7, decay-corrected) with molar activity of 76 ± 17 GBq/mmol. The radiochemical purity of >99%. Enantiomeric purity of [¹⁸F]FET using chiral HPLC analysis showed >99%, which was confirmed by co-injection with the L-FET and D-FET authentic standards. [¹⁸F]FET was prepared with high radiochemical yield and molar activity including no racemate mixture.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.80-96
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• 2023

Purpose: This study examined the trends in domestic research that applied theory to diabetes patients to suggest future directions of nursing practice and research for diabetes patients. Methods: This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. The population was diabetes patients; the concept was a research that applied theory and had no limitations in context. Eligible studies were retrieved from electronic databases of RISS, KMbase, KoreaMed, NDSL, NAL, and nine major domestic nursing journals. Of the 509 retrieved articles, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: The study included the community (57.1%), and the subjects were mainly type 2 diabetes patients (42.9%). The Information-Motivation-Behavior skills (IMB) model was the most applied theory (36.4%). The theories were primarily from psychology disciplines (72.7%) and predominantly applied as a conceptual framework of the study (55%). Conclusion: The studies that applied theory were conducted mainly in the community. The IMB model was the most applied theory, and the theory was most applied as the conceptual framework. Efforts to close the theory-practice gap and further studies on developing nursing interventions based on theory and verifying their effectiveness are needed to improve nursing practice and study for diabetic patients.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.261-270
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• 2024

This study examines portable Gas Chromatography (GC) for the quantitative analysis of oxygen and impurities, focusing on the development and validation of a method to determine oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen in medical compressed oxygen gas. The goal is to ensure the quality of medicalgrade oxygen. The method's validation assessed its metrological characteristics, demonstrating specificity through clear chromatographic separation of the target gases and the absence of these peaks in the carrier gas chromatogram. It exhibited linearity within the designated concentration ranges, while precision met permissible standards, with the relative standard deviation for intermediate precision being less than 4% for carbon monoxide (0.00025 - 0.00099 %), less than 3 % for methane (0.0005 - 0.00246%) and carbon dioxide (0.0050 - 0.0150 %), less than 2% for nitrogen (0.1 - 0.7 %), and less than 0.01% for oxygen (99.27 - 99.98%). Overall, the validation results confirm the suitability of this analytical method for the quantitative determination of the aforementioned gases in medical compressed oxygen using portable GC with microchromatographic columns and detectors.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the association of the COMT polymorphism with the TD in Korean sample of families with TD probands. The relationship between risk alleles and specific clinical features (tic severity, comorbidity, drug response) was also explored. Method : Patients were recruited from the Tic Disorder clinic at the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Division of Seoul National University Hospital and assessed through 2 stage evaluation. Firstly, all the patients and parents received semistructured interview using Korean version of K-SADS-PL. Secondly all the patients received clinical interview and tic severity assessment with Korean version of YGTSS. The subjects in control group were recruited from the health promotion center in out hospital and were evaluated by SCL-90 and SCID-IV. Through these process, total of 42 children and adolescents with TD, their 84 parents and 86 control subjects were finally recruited. Genotyping for The Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was done by standardized method. After collection of genetic data of all the patients, parents and control subjects, case-control comparison and tranmission dysequilibrium test was executed by SPSS version 11. Result : From the case-control comparison, the frequency of L-allele and LL genotype was significantly higher in TD group. However, no differences were found from the TDT. No significant differences were found in in family history of tic, ADHD, OCD, drug response and comorbid conditions among the three different genotypes in patients with TD. Conclusion : Though this study results should be interpreted cautiously due to small sample size and negative finding in TDT test, this study is the first report that there is positive association between the functional polymorphism of COMT gene the TD.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2012

Seed size has been considered as an effective criteria for selection of the most vigorous seeds in sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench]. The smaller seeds were inferior to the larger sizes in emergence and grain yield. This study was conducted to determine germination rate, field emergence and vigor of sorghum for selection of high quality seed by different seed size. Sorghum cultivar of two (Hwanggeumchal and Tojong) were separated into five seed size proportion (<2.36, 2.80, 3.15, 3.35 and >3.55 mm diam.) according to seed size. The larger seed was more higher 1,000 seeds weight, seed density, carbohydrates and protein content. Total seed germination performing varied 92% at the largest size (>3.55 mm diam.) frequently inferior to slightly 67% at smaller seed (2.36 to 2.80 mm diam.) in the standard germination test. Seed size did have a significant effect on mean emergence time (MET) and maximum emergence rate index (ERI) and percentage of emergence. It should be noted that the results refer to MET of sorghum seeds ranging from 4.26 to 4.74 days. The relationship of seed size was not only to stand establishment but to grain yield. Yield was most affected by seed size and large seeds were superior to the smaller seed in 25~37% of the cases. Especially, yield was significant under 3.15 mm the beginning.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2008

Twenty eight gas impermeable plastic films for food-contact application were collected in the domestic market and material and/or migration tests for overall migration, antioxidants, potassium permanganate consumption, heavy metal, and plasticizers were carried out. The average overall migration values for NY/PE or NY/LLDPE, PETP/PE, and PVDC packaging films obtained by using n-heptane as fatty food simulant were 7.6, 6.9 and 14.1 mg/L, respectively. These values were much lower than the limit values of 150 and 30 mg/L for polyethylene and polyvinylidene chloride prescribed in the Korea Food Code. In almost of the packaging materials tested, the antioxidants such as Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076 and Irgafos 168 were found. The migration test result showed that almost of all samples except PVDC film contained Irganox 1076 and Irgafos 168, while the maximum migration value of Irganox 1076 into n-heptane was found in the Ny/PE/LLDPE(15/25/50 ${\mu}m$) sample at the concentration of 216.9 ${\mu}g/g$. From the plastic packaging samples tested, plasticizers such as DEP, DPRP, DBP, DPP, BBP, DCHP, DEHP, DEHA and observed above the detection limit. Consumption amount of potassium permanganate was much lower than the limit value of 10 mg/L. In the material test for heavy metals, cadmium and lead were determined at the concentrations far below the limit value of 100 mg/kg. The migration test for cadmium and lead showed a lower value than the detection limit. Therefore, it can be concluded that the safety status of the plastic films tested met the requirement of limit values as prescribed for the material and migration tests of food packaging utensils, containers and packages of the Korea Food Code.