• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.28-43
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of Boiogito for obesity. We examined the efficacy of Boiogito for obese patients and we expected the reaction of Boiogito would vary according to the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNPs). Methods: 111 subjects(body mass index${\geq}25m/kg^2$) were recruited and randomized to receive Boiogito(n=55) or Placebo(n=56) for 8weeks. Anthropometric factors, serum lipid profile, glucose, blood pressure(BP), pulse rate, resting metabolic rate and Korean version of obesity-related quality of life(KOQOL) scale measured at baseline and 8weeks. SNPs(${\beta}3$-adrenergic receptor(ADRB3), G protein ${\beta}3$(GNB3), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma 2 gene(PPAR-${\gamma}2$), uncoupling protein(UCP2)) were conducted at baseline. Adverse reactions and safety outcome variables were also checked during trials. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement on obesity after treatment. Boiogito group decreased triglyceride than did control group and improved KOQOL. Boiogito showed a significant higher efficacy in C/T and T/T genotype of GNB3 gene / in Trp64 and Arg64 genotype of ADRB3 gene / in D/D genotype of UCP2 gene / in Pro/Pro genotype of PPAR-${\gamma}$ gene. Conclusions: Boiogito promoted obesity indexes without severe adverse reactions and proved its safety. Pharmacogenetical studies of Boiogito on obesity could be a effective method for the individualized treatment and prevention of obesity.

• Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.98-109
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• 2018

Objective: To examine the effects of sodium intake on the correlations between the saltsensitive gene ${\alpha}$-adducin 1 (ADD1) and inflammatory cytokines in Korean childhood obesity. Methods: A total of 2,070 students aged 8-9 years old participated in this study. The anthropometrics, serum biochemistry profile, inflammatory cytokines, and three-day dietary assessment were analyzed according to sex, obesity degree, and ADD1 polymorphism. Results: The obesity prevalence was higher in boys (15.6%) than in girls (11.9%). Boys also showed higher values in anthropometrics; lipid, glucose, and insulin profiles; total calorie intakes, as well as those of sodium and calcium compared with those of the girls. The more obese were boys and girls, the higher were the anthropometrics and the blood levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and insulin), but the lower was high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The obese boys had significantly higher sodium and Na/K intakes, while the obese girls had higher visfatin level and Na/K intake. In addition, an increase in the risk factors for blood pressure and obesity in ADD1 variants was identified. Serum tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$) significantly increased with increasing sodium intake in the ADD1 W allele carriers, regardless of sex. The presence of obesity with the ADD1 W allele induced inflammatory accelerators such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ or C-reactive protein(CRP) with higher sodium intake. Conclusion: Obese children with an ADD1w allele can experience a more complex form of obesity than non-obese when exposed to an obesity-inducing environment and need to be controlled sodium intake in the diet.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.267-278
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• 2022

Pre-stressed concrete circular spun piles are widely used in various infrastructure projects around the world and offer an economical deep foundation system with consistent and superior quality compared to cast in-situ and other concrete piles. Conventional methods for measuring the lateral response of piles have been limited to conventional instrumentation, such as electrical based gauges and pressure transducers. The problem with existing technology is that the sensors are not able to assist in recording the lateral stiffness changes of the pile which varies along the length depending on the distribution of the flexural moments and appearance of tensile cracks. This paper describes a full-scale bending test of a 1-m diameter spun pile of 30 m long and instrumented using advanced fibre optic distributed sensor, known as Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA). Optical fibre sensors were embedded inside the concrete during the manufacturing stage and attached on the concrete surface in order to measure the pile's full-length flexural behaviour under the prescribed serviceability and ultimate limit state. The relationship between moments-deflections and bending moments-curvatures are examined with respect to the lateral forces. Tensile cracks were measured and compared with the peak strains observed from BOTDA data which corroborated very well. By analysing the moment-curvature response of the pile, the structure can be represented by two bending stiffness parameters, namely the pre-yield (EI) and post-yield (EI_cr), where the cracks reduce the stiffness property by 89%. The pile deflection profile can be attained from optical fibre data through closed-form solutions, which generally matched with the displacements recorded by Linear Voltage Displacement Transducers (LVDTs).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2024

The Téra manganese deposit represents the most significant manganese mineralization discovered in Niger up today. The main host rocks of this ore are gondites, which are a garnet and quartz rich metamorphic rocks. The supergene weathering developed an alteration profile on these gondites. This study aims to identify the mineralogical composition of gondites and associated rocks, in order to highlight the origine of rocks and the manganese enrichment. The methodological approach adopted involved a field study followed by polarizing microscopic analysis using transmitted and reflected lights. Additionally, quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to assess the manganese ore minerals present in the gondite and associated rocks, including mica schists, amphibolites, and quartzites. The petrographic study revealed a paragenesis characterized by the presence of kyanite, staurolites, garnets and plagioclases that are generally poikiloblasts with quartz and opaque minerals inclusions, emphasizing the internal schistosity which is planar, helicitic or microfolded. These features indicate a prograde metamorphism until high-pressure amphibolite facies conditions. These conditions are followed by greenschist facies conditions marked by calcite, epidote, muscovite, chlorite and muscovite assemblage which emphasizes the vertical tectonics. Depending on the alteration process, the manganese ore exhibit a granular texture at the bottom of the gondite hills, transitioning to a colloform texture towards the top, passing through the epigenization and replacement texture. The XRD analysis further revealed that the studied rocks originated from a volcano-sedimentary complex, characterized by alternating marly, arenaceous and pelitic sequences associated with submarine exhalations.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.367-378
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• 2024

Background: Fibromyalgia is characterized by the presence of chronic widespread pain that may impair patient's quality of life. Currently, the use of naltrexone as a therapeutic agent for fibromyalgia is not supported by enough evidence, especially from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This study aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) for the management of fibromyalgia. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on the Scopus, Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library databases up until May 20th, 2024. This review incorporates RCTs that examine the comparison between LDN and placebo in fibromyalgia patients. We employed random-effect models to analyze the odds ratio and mean difference (MD) for presentation of the outcomes. Results: A total of 4 RCTs with 222 fibromyalgia patients were incorporated. The results of our meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in pain scores (MD: -0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.20, -0.51, P < 0.001, I² = 33%) and higher increment in pressure pain threshold (MD: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.25, P < 0.001, I² = 0%) among fibromyalgia patients who received LDN than those who only received a placebo. The fibromyalgia impact questionnaire revised and pain catastrophizing scale did not differ significantly between the two groups. LDN was also associated with higher incidence of vivid dreams and nausea, but showed no significant difference with the placebo in terms of serious adverse events, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness. Conclusions: This study suggests the efficacy of LDN in mitigating pain symptoms for fibromyalgia patients with a relatively good safety profile.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5317-5325
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and determine the distribution of the clustering of the metabolic risk factors, and we wanted to evaluated the related factors in urban areas. 1,388 adults of 30 years and over, not recognized as taking medicines for or having cardiovascular diseases, who underwent health package check-up at the health promotion center of a university hospital. All subjects were measured by height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood chemistry(lipid profile). As a results, the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome of study subjects were 21.7%, and the rates of metabolic risk factors were HDL-C, blood pressure, TG, abdominal obesity and FBS in that order. And the factors such influencing on metabolic syndrome as age, BMI, smoking habits, vegetable consumption and family history of the diabetes. Consequently, it is suggested that the evaluation and intervention for lifestyle factors may be needed in order to the risk management of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 2005

In this paper, commercial CFD program FLUENT v5.3 is used for simulation of MCFC stack. Besides using conservation equations included in FLUENT by default, mass change, mole fraction change and heat added or removed due to electrochemical reactions and water gas shift reaction are considered by adding several equations using user defined function. The stacks calculated are 6 and 25 kW class coflow stack which are composed of 20 and 40 unit cells respectively. Simulation results showed that pressure drop took place in the direction of gas flow, and the pressure drop of cathode side is more larger than that of anode side. And the velocity of cathode gas decreased along with the gas flow direction, but the velocity of anode gas increased because of the mass and volume changes by the chemical reactions in each electrodes. Simulated temperature profile of the stack tended to increase along with the gas flow direction and it showed similar results with the experimental data. Water gas shift reaction was endothermic at the gas inlet side but it was exothermic at the outlet side of electrode respectively. Therefore water gas shift reaction played a role in increasing temperature difference between inlet and outlet side of stack. This results suggests that the simulation of large scale commercial stacks need to consider water gas shift reaction.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the ATP III report, in some Korean adults and use the Asian-Pacific proposed waist circumference to investigate waist circumference in some Korean adults using ROC curves. Methods : Study subjects were seventy-five thousands and ninety one persons(47,979 men and 27,111 women) who were selected among the patients who visited hospital for health evaluation from January 2000 to December 2001. All subjects were measured by height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure and blood chemistry(lipid profile). Results : The mean age was $41.6{\pm}8.5$ years in men, $41.1{\pm}10.4$ years in women(p<0.05). Body mass index was in the normal range in 35.3% of men, and 55.9% of women. In both men and women, blood pressure, blood sugar, total cholesterol and triglyceride were positively correlated with BMI. waist circumference, and Broca's index(p<0.01). However HDL. choloesterol was correlated negatively (p< 0.01). Using ROC curve, the calculated waist circumferences were 84 cm in men(sensitivity 61.4% and specificity 64.1%) and 74 cm in women(sensitivity 65.0% and specificity 73.2%). The age adjusted prevalences of the metabolic syndrome as defined by NCEP ATP III were different for men(6.4%) and women(14.6%). The prevalence increased from 1.2% among participants aged 20 through 29years to 15.0% among participants aged over 60years in men(p<0.05) and from 1.6% to 27.4% respectively, in women. The age adjusted prevalences, as defined by using the waist circumference that was recommended by WHO's regional office for the western Pacific, were 10.6% in men and 18.5% in women. The age adjusted prevalences, as defined by using the waist circumference that was calculated by the ROC curves, were 17.1% in men and 22.4% in women. And All prevalences were increased following increased BMI and Broca's index. Conculsions : The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in some Korean adults was lower than that in western adults. Nevertheless because waist circumference was differed among race and region, application of the same criteria was not proper. Morcover, a higher awareness was required in women, because the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was rapidly increased with increment of age.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2011

In the high temperature situation like in a fire, the high strength of concrete (HSC) has extreme danger named explosive spalling. It is assumed that the major cause of explosive spalling is water vapour pressure inside concrete. This paper examines the effect of the compressive strength and the moisture content on the initial occurrence of explosive spalling. For the effective experiment of the initial explosive spalling, the curve of ISO834 temperature profile is applied on the basis of 15 minute and 30 minute. As a result, the more increase the compressive strength and the moisture content, the more increase the occurrence and phenomenon of explosive spalling. This paper analyzes the territory of explosive spalling depending the compressive strength and the moisture content. The explosive spalling is not examined in the case of the compressive strength 50~100 MPa and the moisture content below 3% and the compressive strength over 100 MPa and the moisture content below 1%. Also, due to the HSC, which makes it more difficult to transport vapour and moisture, very high vapour-pressure may occur close to the surface, there is a greater risk that HSC spalls compared with normal strength concrete (NSC).

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.97-109
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• 2010

Objective : To examine whether any correlation between tendency towards depression and tenderness at special acupuncture points exists, thus to explore the potential diagnostic property of acupuncture points. Methods : A total 31 subjects were included in this study. They filled out questionnaires about their mental [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Stress Response Inventory (SRI), Profile of Mood States (POMS)] and physical (fatigue due to overexertion, and food accumulation) symptoms. Identical weight around Alarm points (CV17, CV12, ST25, CV5, CV4, and LR13) and transport points (BL14, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL25, and BL27) was given using an algometer and the subjects rated their pain on an 11-point numerical rating scale. Heart rate variability (HRV) was also measured. Results : The subjects were divided into two groups, normal and depressive tendency groups with a cut-off point of nine on BDI. The depressive tendency group reported significantly higher values in SRI, POMS, and questionnaire for fatigue due to overexertion. In the pressure pain measurement, depressive tendency group had more pressure pain at CV12, left side of BL20, BL14, BL22 and both sides of BL21, BL25, BL27, significantly (each p<0.05). The data of HRV did not show significant differences between groups. Conclusions : People with a tendency towards depression may be prone to stress, negative mood, and fatigue due to overexertion. In addition, they may be more likely to develop tenderness at alarm points and transport points compared with healthy people. Further research is needed to confirm this finding.