• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.401-410
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.203-214
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate brain activation pattern and functional connectivity during convergence thinking based creative problem solving and chemistry problem solving to identify characteristic convergence thinking that is backbone of creative problem solving using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI). A fMRI paradaigm inducing convergence thinking and chemistry problem solving was developed and adjusted on 17 highschool students, and brain activation image during task was analyzed. According to the results, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, precuneus and caudate nucleus body in left hemisphere and cuneus and caudate nucleus body in right hemisphere were significantly activated during convergence thinking. The other hand, middle frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus and caudate nucleus in left hemisphere and middle frontal gyrus, lingual gyrus, caudate nucleus, thalamus and culmen of cerebellum in right hemisphere were significantly activated during chemistry problem solving. As results of analysis functional connectivity, all of areas activated during convergence thinking were functionaly connected, whereas scanty connectivity of chemistry problem solving between right middle frontal gyrus, bilateral nucleus caudate tail and culmen. The results show that logical thinking, working memory, planning, imaging, languge based thinking and learning motivation were induced during convergence thinking and these functions and regions were synchronized intimately. Whereas, logical thinking and inducing learning motivation functioning during chemistry problem solving were not synchronized. These results provide concrete information about convergence thinking.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.393-399
• /
• 1994

Spinal cord compression, an oncologic emergency, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy Our experience was obtained with a series 32 Patients following retrospective analysis for assessing the role of radiation therapy and identifying the prognostic factors affecting on treatment outcome. Diagnosis was usually made by means of radiologic study such as myelography or computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic examination. Five cases were diagnosed by subjective symptom only with high index of suspicion. In 31 cases, the treatment consisted in radiation therapy alone and the remained one patient had laminectomy before radiation therapy because of diagnostic doubts. Total treatment doses ranged from 800 cGy to 4000 cGy with median of 2000 cGy. Initially large fraction size more than 250 cGy were used in 13 patients with rapidly progressed neurologic deficit. The clinical parameters considered in evaluating the response to treatment were backache, motor-sensory performance and sphincter function. Half of all patients showed good response. Partial response and no response were noted in $37.5\%$ and $12.5\%$, respectively. Our results showed higher response rate than those of other solid tumor series. The degree of neurologic deficit at that time of diagnosis was the most important predictor of treatment outcome. The elapsed time from development of symptoms to start of treatment was significantly affected on the outcome. But histology of primary tumor total dose and use of initial large fraction size were not significantly affect on the outcome. These results confirmed the value of early diagnosis and treatment especially in radiosensitive hematologic malignancy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.600-607
• /
• 2017

The total acidity (TA) of Makgeolli was affected by suspended solids and $CO_2$ produced during the fermentation process. Nine Makgeollis (four sterilized and five unsterilized Makgeollis) were collected in the market, and their TAs were compared before and after filtration and $CO_2$ removal. TAs of sterilized Makgeollis were 0.379~0.477%, which significantly decreased to 0.167~0.225% after filtration and 0.132~0.170% after $CO_2$ removal (P<0.05). TAs of unsterilized Makgeollis were 0.412~0.467% and decreased to 0.157~0.365% after filtration and 0.143~0.280% after $CO_2$ removal (P<0.05). TAs of Makgeollis were compared by three methods using different indicators. The TAs of sterilized and unsterilized Makgeollis were 0.105~0.123% and 0.105~0.200%, respectively, by bromthymol blue+neutral red (light green), 0.129~0.154% and 0.130~0.255%, respectively, by phenolphthalein (faint pink), and 0.120~0.146% and 0.130~0.232%, respectively, by bromthymol (blue). Nowadays, Makgeolli is commercialized with various distinct colors, and thus it is important to select appropriate indicators for proper titration endpoint identification for TA measurement. The compositions of organic acids profiles varied depending on sterilized or unsterilized Makgeollis, in which oxalic acid (0.108~0.329 mg/mL), malic acid (ND to 0.134 mg/mL), lactic acid (0.127~0.776 mg/mL), and citric acid (ND to 1.159 mg/mL) were found, and lactic acid was in unsterilized more than sterilized Makgeollis.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.3-15
• /
• 1997

Iron oxide compounds in 8 selected Cheju Island soil samples have been analized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF), X-ray diffractometry(XRD), selected chemical techniques, and $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectroscopy. The result of this analysis by XRF shows that the rate of quantity of $Fe_2O_3$ in 8 soil samples was from 8.03wt.%(Daejeong paddy soil) to 18.21wt.%(Songag soils). Songag, Heugag and Gueom soils were detected to have lower peaks of intensity of hematite by XRD. In addition, these soils were not detected to have hematite and goethite peaks. Ferrihydrite, which is a short-range-order mineral commonly present in volcanic ash soil, was not detected by XRD due to low concentration and/or poor cristallinity. Ferrihydrite contents estimated from Feo values were 8.8~35.2g/kg for volcanic ash soils and 0.85g/kg for the Daejeong soil. Most of the soil samples represented by the paramagnetic $Fe^{3+}$ doublet obtained from $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectra at room temperature and 18K were considered to arise from the presence of ferrihydrite, superparamagnetic goethite, and silicate minerals. Also the paramagnetic $Fe^{2+}$ doublets are attributable to primary minerals such as olivine, illite, chlorite, augite, biotite, and hornblende. Goethite and hematite were identified as the dominant crystalline iron oxides in these soils from $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ spectra obtained at room temperature and 18K. All the soil samples exhibited strong superparamagnetic relaxation. Collapse of the $M{\ddot{o}}ssbauer$ magnetic hyperfine splitting at room temperature was due to the small size(${\sim}180{\AA}$) of the oxide particles and/or Al-subsituted goethite.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.178-186
• /
• 2009

The quality control is needed to ensure the accuracy of medical information and achieved by evaluating the performance of and maintaining the system and practicing various measurements and evaluations. The Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image, therefore, have held educational program for quality control of special medical equipments. The major of programs participants, however, are radiology specialists with only small number of radiological technologists from some hospitals, furthermore, the follow-up education and the share of information between participants and non-participants are insufficient in general, thus, the knowledge level of radiological technologists, regardless of their participation, is relatively low. This study carried out the questionnaire research for the 500 radiological technologists registered in Korean Society of MRI Technology, on the basis of 2008, and performed analysis for five months from May to Oct., 2008. The questionnaires were delivered by post to each radiological technologists and the response rate was 36%(n=180). The results of this revealed that the 86.7% of respondents felt the necessity of inspection on quality management, while only the 27.8% completed the educational program for manager of special medical equipment. and only the half(53.9%) had the knowledge about inspection on quality management. The completion of educational program had no correlations with sex, age, size of occupying hospital, the number of radiological technologists in occupying site and MRI laboratory, career year of general radiologist and in MRI laboratory, and the presence of biomedical engineering department in occupying hospital. The 78.0% of participants at the educational program for quality management held by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image had the knowledge about inspection on quality management(p<.05) whereas the 43.9% of the hospitals held such program and the 54.4% of radiological technologists from those hospitals had related knowledge, which indicated that such programs held by hospitals had not effects on the knowledge level of radiological technologists. This indicates also that the contents, methods, and other conditional factors of educational programs are important for the outcome of them.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.208-214
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Verifying a reliable predictor of the progression of vertebral deformity in patients with acute osteoporotic fractures of the lumbar spine may be useful. A qualitative analysis of the muscle near the spine was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its correlation with a spinal deformity was determined under the hypothesis that the causes of the kyphotic deformity are associated with muscle reduction in the multifidus and erector spinae. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in a retrospective manner using the electronic medical records of patients who presented to the author's institution between January 2007 and March 2018, and were diagnosed with an acute lumbar fracture. The fat infiltration rates of the multifidus and erector spinae were measured using MRI taken at the time of injury, and the mean value was defined as the total fat infiltration rate (TFI). Based on lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine at the one-year follow-up, the loss of height of the vertebral body, the kyphotic angle and the wedge angle were measured. The statistical significance was confirmed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: One hundred twenty-nine patients, of which 30 were male and 99 were female, were examined. The mean age was 71.28 years. The mean T-score was -3.53±0.79 g/cm², and the mean fat infiltration was 15.20%±11.99%. TFI was positively correlated with age (R=0.373, p<0.001), compression rate (R=0.369, p<0.001), and Cobb's angle (R=0.386, p<0.001) after a one year follow-up, but negatively correlated with the BMD score (R=-0.252, p=0.004). As the fracture progressed to the lower lumbar level, the compression rate (R=-0191, p=0.030) and wedge angle (R=-0.428, p<0.001) at the time of injury tended to decrease. Conclusion: In patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, the fat infiltration rate may be an important predictor of conservative treatment. The prognosis of patients with a high-fat infiltration rate should be explained during patient education, and the patients must be monitored closely through short-term outpatient follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.318-323
• /
• 2020

Purpose: To examine the relationship between total fat infiltration (TFI) rate, which quantifies the reduction of muscles around the spine and is an important factor for sarcopenia, and the factors affecting osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Materials and Methods: Patients treated for osteoporotic compression fractures of the lumber spine from January 2012 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, this study included ninety-eight patients who were 1) diagnosed with osteoporosis with a bone mineral density (BMD) T score of less than 2.5 g/cm², 2) received vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for lumbar fractures, 3) involved one segment of the lumbar spine, and 4) were followed-up for more than one year. The TFI rate confirmed by analyzing magnetic resonance imagings with the Image J program was studied. Based on this, the relationship between the TFI of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles and the factors of osteoporosis were analyzed. Results: The mean TFI of the multifidus and erector spinae was 14.66±10.16. The spine BMD showed a positive correlation with the hip BMD, but a negative correlation with the TFI. A positive correlation was observed between the hip BMD and body mass index. In addition, vitamin D was positively correlated with both the hip and spine BMD but negatively correlated with the TFI rate. Conclusion: Muscle growth helps treat osteoporosis, and can prevent fractures that occur frequently in osteoporosis patients. Increasing the vitamin intake can also slow the progression of muscle atrophy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2023

Leigh syndrome is a rare progressive neurodegenerative mitochondrial disorder with clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Recently, balletic IARS2 variants have been identified in a number of patients presenting broad clinical phenotypes from Leigh and West syndrome to a rare syndrome CAGSSS characterized by cataracts, growth hormone deficiency, sensory neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, and skeletal dysplasia syndrome (OMIM#616007). We describe a child with Korean Leigh syndrome with urologic manifestations resulting from a compound heterozygote mutation in IARS2. A 5-year-old girl visited the emergency room with a complaint of abdominal pain accompanied by abdominal distension. Abdominal-pelvic CT showed a markedly distended urinary bladder without definite obstructive lesions. She was diagnosed with neurogenic bladder dysfunction based on a urodynamic study. She had global delayed development due to neurologic regression after 6 months of age and a history of bilateral cataract surgery at the age of 2 years. Her brain magnetic resonance imaging showed symmetrically increased signal intensities in the bilateral putamen and caudate nuclei with diffuse cerebral atrophy. No gene variants were identified through whole-mitochondrial genome analysis. Whole exome sequencing was performed for diagnosis, and compound heterozygous pathogenic variants were identified in IARS2: c.2446C>T (p. Arg816Ter) and c.2450G>A (p. Arg817His). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of bladder dysfunction manifestation in a patient with IARS2-related Leigh syndrome. Thus, it broadens the clinical and genetic spectrum of IARS2-associated diseases.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.149-160
• /
• 2024

Dextran is a glucose homo-polysaccharide with a predominantly α-1,6 glycosidic linkage of microbial source and is known to be produced primarily by lactic acid bacteria. However, it can also be obtained through the dextran dextrinase of acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter oxydans). The dextrin-based dextran was obtained from rice starch using G. oxydans fermentation of rice hydrolysate, and its properties were studied. Both dextrin- and rice hydrolysate-added media maintained the OD value of 6 after 20 h of incubation with acetic acid bacteria, and the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis of the supernatant after 72 h of incubation confirmed that a polymeric material with DP of 480 and 405, which was different from the composition of the substrate in the medium, was produced. The glucose linkage pattern of the polysaccharide was confirmed using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and the increased α-1,4:α-1,6 bond ratio from 0.23 and 0.13 to 1:2.37 and 1:4.4, respectively, indicating that the main bonds were converted to α-1,6 bonds. The treatment of dextrin with a rat-derived alpha-glucosidase digestive enzyme resulted in a slow release of glucose, suggesting that rice hydrolysate can be converted to dextran using acetic acid bacteria with glycosyltransferase activity to produce high-value bio-materials with slowly digestible properties.