• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.505-518
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Gugijagami-bang (GGB) in a hyperlipidemic animal model induced by a high-fat diet using diverse biological methods. Methods: This study was to determine whether fractionated GGB extracts inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. Hyperlipidemia was induced by a high-fat diet fed for 6 weeks. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, liver function and histologic change of liver were measured after oral administration of GGB. Results: 1. DPPH scavenging bow performance was increased in a concentration-dependent manner by GGB. 2. Compared to the control group, NO production (%) and ROS production (%) were decreased significantly by GGB. 3. Total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride were decreased significantly by GGB. 4. HDL cholesterol increased more than the control group, but not significantly. 5. In histopathologic examination, fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) was inhibited, almost no rounds of fat were observed in the liver. Conclusions: GGB would appear effective in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular diseases caused by hyperlipidemia.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.963-966
• /
• 2007

The objectives of this study were to identity antioxidant substance in heated garlic juice (HGJ). We evaluated the antioxidant activities of heated garlic juice exposed to 120, 130, and $140^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr. The HGJ was partitioned using the solvents of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. The ethyl acetate fraction of HGJ treated at $130^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr showed strong antioxidant activity; this extract was isolated and purified using silica gel column chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the purified compound was determined using spectroscopic methods, i.e., ultraviolet, mass spectrometry, infrared, $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR, DEPT, HMBC, and HMQC. The isolated compound was identified as thiacremonone (2,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-thiophene-3-one). Thiacremonone showed strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, with a 50% inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$) of $22.25{\pm}0.44\;{\mu}g/mL$, which is much higher than that of the antioxidants ascorbic acid ($30.06{\pm}0.42\;{\mu}g/mL$), ${\alpha}$-tocopherol ($71.30{\pm}0.97\;{\mu}g/mL$), and butylated hydroxyanisole ($50.54{\pm}0.94\;{\mu}g/mL$).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.721-730
• /
• 2013

Within the framework of the ASTRID project, core design studies are being conducted by the CEA with support from AREVA and EDF. The pre-conceptual design studies are being conducted in accordance with the GEN IV reactor objectives, particularly in terms of improving safety. This involves limiting the consequences of 1) a hypothetical control rod withdrawal accident (by minimizing the core reactivity loss during the irradiation cycle), and 2) an hypothetical loss-of-flow accident (by reducing the sodium void worth). Two types of cores are being studied for the ASTRID project. The first is based on a 'large pin/small spacing wire' concept derived from the SFR V2b, while the other is based on an innovative CFV design. A distinctive feature of the CFV core is its negative sodium void worth. In 2011, the evaluation of a preliminary version (v1) of this CFV core for ASTRID underlined its potential capacity to improve the prevention of severe accidents. An improved version of the ASTRID CFV core (v2) was proposed in 2012 to comply with all the control rod withdrawal criteria, while increasing safety margins for all unprotected-loss-of-flow (ULOF) transients and improving the general design. This paper describes the CFV v2 design options and reports on the progress of the studies at the end of pre-conceptual design phase 1 concerning: - Core performance, - Intrinsic behavior during unprotected transients, - Simulation of severe accident scenarios, - Qualification requirements. The paper also specifies the open options for the materials, sub-assemblies, absorbers, and core monitoring that will continue to be studied during the conceptual design phase.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.123-130
• /
• 2013

Objectives : During several thousand years, Peucedanum Japonicum Thunberg has been considered as a vegetable side dish in Korea. There is folk knowledge that Peucedanum Japonicum Thunberg prevents vascular disease such as stroke. To identify the effects Peucedanum Japonicum Thunberg, we made up its extract and named it as KH020. Then, we employed common carotid artery ligation (CCAl) surgery for vascular dementia model (VDM), and two types doses of per os (per oral: p.o) treatment. Methods : To confirm prevention and recovery effects for vascular dementia, we treated two doses (100, 400 mg/kg) KH020 in male C57BL/6 mouse during 7 days. After treatment, animals were CCAl operated, and given time to recover. Then, animal were tested in a Y-maze and passive avoidance test. Results : Y-maze results demonstrated that cognition and memory performance were decreased in the VDM group, compared to the sham group. KH020 treatment abolished these effects significantly. The results from the passive avoidance test showed the same phenomenon, but it was not statically significant. Conclusions : Therefore, KH020 prevents the onset of vascular dementia. In future studies, we will evaluate KH020 in regard to alzheimer dementia.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.321-327
• /
• 2011

Objectives: To find out from an analysis of empirical data the levels of influence, which a labor union (LU) and Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) have in reducing the occupational injury and illness rate (OIIR) through their accident prevention activities in manufacturing industries with five or more employees. Methods: The empirical data used in this study are the Occupational Safety and Health Tendency survey data, Occupational Accident Compensation data and labor productivity and sales data for the years 2003 to 2007. By matching these three sources of data, a final data set (n = 280) was developed and analyzed using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: It was found that a workplace with a LU has a lower OIIR than one without a LU. In manufacturing industries with five or more employees in 2007, the OIIR of the workplaces without a LU was 0.87%, while that of workplaces with a LU was much lower at 0.45%. In addition, workplaces with an established OSHC had a lower OIIR than those without an OSHC. Conclusion: It was found that the OIIR of workplaces with a LU is lower than those without a LU. Moreover, those with the OSHC usually had a lower OIIR than those without. The workplace OIIR may have an impact on management performance because the rate is negatively correlated with labor productivity and sales. In the long run, the OIIR of workplaces will be reduced when workers and employers join forces and recognize that the safety and health activities of the workplace are necessary, not only for securing the health rights of the workers, but also for raising labor productivity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2022.05a
• /
• pp.221-221
• /
• 2022

방재성능목표란 홍수, 호우 등으로부터 재해를 예방하기 위한 방재정책 등에 적용하기 위하여 처리 가능한 시간당 강우량 및 연속강우량의 목표로, 각 지자체별로 지역특성 및 경제여건 등을 고려하여 지역별 방재성능목표를 설정한다. 지역별 방재성능목표 기준을 설정하기 위해 전국을 168개 티센망으로 분류하고 69개 지점 확률강우량을 활용하여 지방자치단체별 확률강우량을 산정하고, 지방자치단체별 티센면적 비율을 감안하여 각 지자체별 방재성능목표 설정 기준을 마련한다. 이때 확률강우량 산정에 기상청에서 제공하는 종관기상관측(ASOS) 자료를 이용하는데, 종관기상관측(ASOS, Automated Synoptic Observing System)이란 종관규모의 날씨를 파악하기 위하여 정해진 시각에 모든 관측소에서 같은 시각에 실시하는 지상관측으로, 종관규모는 일기도에 표현되어 있는 고기압이나 저기압의 공간적 크기 및 수명을 말하며, 해당 지역의 현재 기상 실시간 제공 및 기상예보에 활용한다. 그러나 ASOS 자료로 산정한 확률강우량을 토대로 설정한 지역별 방재성능목표는 지배관측소개소 및 면적 비율에 따라 강우량이 실제 해당 지역에 내린 강우량에 비해 작거나 크게 산정되어 실제 강우량을 반영하지 못하는 문제가 발생한다. 이에 지진·태풍·홍수·가뭄 등 기상현상에 따른 자연재해를 막기 위해 실시하는 지상관측인 방재성능관측(AWS, Automatic Weather System)을 1997년부터 약 510여개 지점에 설치하여 기상관측자료를 구축하고 있으나, 관측자료가 30년 미만이므로 자료의 일관성 및 신뢰도 확보 등의 문제로 이용하고 있지 않다. 실제로 ASOS 관측소와 AWS 관측소의 시간 강우량 최댓값 차이가 큼에도 불구하고 행안부는 지역별 방재성능목표 수립을 위한 강우량 산정에서 AWS 관측소의 기록은 반영하지 않고 ASOS 관측소 기록만 적용하여 실제 해당 지역의 강우량을 반영하는 방재 대책을 수립하지 못하는 실정이다. 따라서 소규모 유역 및 재해영향평가 등의 경우 인근 지역에 AWS 관측소가 있을 경우, 해당지역의 기상 특성을 대변하는 자료로 보유관측년수가 30년 이상인 AWS 자료의 적극적인 활용이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.14
• /
• pp.5721-5727
• /
• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3123-3129
• /
• 2016

Background: Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in Sabah Malaysia with a reported age-standardized incidence rate was 104.9 per 100,000 in 2007. The incidence rate depends on non-mandatory notification in the registry. Under-reporting will provide the false picture of cancer control program effectiveness. The present study was to evaluate the performance of the cancer registry system in terms of representativeness, data quality, simplicity, acceptability and timeliness and provision of recommendations for improvement. Materials and Methods: The evaluation was conducted among key informants in the National Cancer Registry (NCR) and reporting facilities from Feb-May 2012 and was based on US CDC guidelines. Representativeness was assessed by matching cancer case in the Health Information System (HIS) and state pathology records with those in NCR. Data quality was measured through case finding and re-abstracting of medical records by independent auditors. The re-abstracting portion comprised 15 data items. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess simplicity and acceptability. Timeliness was measured from date of diagnosis to date of notification received and data dissemination. Results: Of 4613 cancer cases reported in HIS, 83.3% were matched with cancer registry. In the state pathology centre, 99.8% was notified to registry. Duplication of notification was 3%. Data completeness calculated for 104 samples was 63.4%. Registrars perceived simplicity in coding diagnosis as moderate. Notification process was moderately acceptable. Median duration of interval 1 was 5.7 months. Conclusions: The performances of registry's attributes are fairly positive in terms of simplicity, case reporting sensitivity, and predictive value positive. It is moderately acceptable, data completeness and inflexible. The usefulness of registry is the area of concern to achieve registry objectives. Timeliness of reporting is within international standard, whereas timeliness to data dissemination was longer up to 4 years. Integration between existing HIS and national registration department will improve data quality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5365-5370
• /
• 2015

Background: Combining risk factors for prostate cancer into a predictive tool may improve the detection of prostate cancer while decreasing the number of benign biopsies. We compare one such tool, age multiplied by prostate volume divided by total serum PSA (PSA-AV) with PSA density and detection of primary malignant circulating prostate cells (CPCs) in a Chilean prostate cancer screening program. The objectives were not only to determine the predictive values of each, but to determine the number of clinically significant cancers that would have been detected or missed. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted of all men undergoing 12 core ultrasound guided prostate biopsy for suspicion of cancer attending the Hospital DIPRECA and Hospital de Carabineros de Chile. Total serum PSA was registered, prostate volumecalculated at the moment of biopsy, and an 8ml blood simple taken immediately before the biopsy procedure. Mononuclear cells were obtained from the blood simple using differential gel centrifugation and CPCs identified using immunocytchemistry with anti-PSA and anti-P504S. Biopsy results were classed as positive or negative for cancer and if positive the Gleason score, number of positive cores and percent infiltration recorded. Results: A total of 664 men participated, of whom 234 (35.2%) had cancer detected. They were older, had higher mean PSA, PSA density and lower PSA-AV. Detection of CPCs had high predictive score, sensitivity, sensibility and positive and negative predictive values, PSA-AV was not significantly different from PSA density in this population. The use of CPC detection avoided more biopsies and missed fewer significant cancers.Conclusions: In this screening population the use of CPC detection predicted the presence of clinically significant prostate cancer better than the other parameters. The high negative predictive value would allow men CPC negative to avoid biopsy but remain in follow up. The formula PSA-AV did not add to the predictive performance using PSA density.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3341-3355
• /
• 2016

Background: A recent WHO data report on mortality attributable to tobacco use including cigarette smoking indicated a very high burden of deaths in Asia and that people often initiate smoking as early as young adolescents. The objectives of this study were to systematically review peer-reviewed articles on cigarette smoking initiation among Asian adolescents and to develop a conceptual model of factors influencing smoking initiation by integrating all relevant factors based on existing data. Materials and Methods: Following a PRISMA guideline, a systematic review of articles published between 2005 and June 2015 was conducted using 5 databases on cigarette smoking initiation among adolescents (aged 10-19 years) living in Asia. We summarized the main findings of each study according to our research questions and data that emerged during the data extraction process. Analysis and categorization were based on the TTI and TPB models and classification of factors extracted from the study, were as follows: personal factors, social factors, broader environmental factors, mediators, and intention to initiate smoking and smoking behavior. Results: Of 1,227 identified studies, only 20 were included in this review. Our findings found that the mean age of cigarette smoking initiation ranged from 10 to 14 years and those who are more likely to initiate smoking are male, older adolescents, adolescents with low parental SES, individuals with low parental monitoring, low parental education level and having no discussion on smoking at home, those living in public housing and those exhibiting health-risk behavior. Our study also revealed that the risk of smoking initiation increased when they are exposed to smokers, influenced by peers, exposed to tobacco advertisements, receive pocket money, have lack of knowledge about smoking, have poor school performance, have a family conflict and have psychological problems. The conceptual model developed demonstrated complex networks of factors influencing initiation. Conclusions: This systematic review presents various factors influencing smoking initiation of the Asian adolescents and provides a conceptual framework to further analyze factors. Future studies should have a standard measure of smoking initiation, should analyze interactions and the intensity of relationships between different factors or variables in the conceptual model. This will in turn consolidate the understanding of the different factors affecting smoking initiation and will help to improve interventions in this area.