• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.256-267
• /
• 2024

Background and Objectives: Accumulating evidence shows that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, whether SGLT2i, compared with other antidiabetic drugs, reduce the new development of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. In this study, we compared SGLT2i with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) in terms of reduction in the risk of AF in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We included 42,786 propensity score-matched pairs of SGLT2i and DPP-4i users without previous AF diagnosis using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. Results: During a median follow-up of 1.3 years, SGLT2i users had a lower incidence of AF than DPP-4i users (1.95 vs. 2.65 per 1,000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.97; p=0.028]). In individuals without heart failure, SGLT2i users was associated with a decreased risk of AF incidence (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.94; p=0.019) compared to DPP-4i users. However, individuals with heart failure, SGLT2i users was not significantly associated with a change in risk (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.44-2.44; p=0.936). Conclusions: In this nationwide cohort study of individuals with type 2 diabetes, treatment with SGLT2i was associated with a lower risk of AF compared with treatment with DPP-4i.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.311-322
• /
• 2024

Background and Objectives: Early diastolic mitral annular tissue (e') velocity is a commonly used marker of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic implications of e' velocity in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 1,536 consecutive patients aged <65 years with moderate or severe chronic primary MR diagnosed between 2009 and 2018. The primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. According to the current guidelines, the cut-off value of e' velocity was defined as 7 cm/s. Results: A total of 404 individuals were enrolled (median age, 51.0 years; 64.1% male; 47.8% severe MR). During a median 6.0-year follow-up, there were 40 all-cause mortality and 16 cardiovascular deaths. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between e' velocity and all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.770; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.634-0.935; p=0.008) and cardiovascular death (aHR, 0.690; 95% CI, 0.477-0.998; p=0.049). Abnormal e' velocity (≤7 cm/s) independently predicted all-cause death (aHR, 2.467; 95% CI, 1.170-5.200; p=0.018) and cardiovascular death (aHR, 5.021; 95% CI, 1.189-21.211; p=0.028), regardless of symptoms, LV dimension and ejection fraction. Subgroup analysis according to sex, MR severity, mitral valve replacement/repair, and symptoms, showed no significant interactions. Including e' velocity in the 10-year risk score improved reclassification for mortality (net reclassification improvement [NRI], 0.154; 95% CI, 0.308-0.910; p<0.001) and cardiovascular death (NRI, 1.018; 95% CI, 0.680-1.356; p<0.001). Conclusions: In patients aged <65 years with primary MR, e' velocity served as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.

• Korean Circulation Journal
• /
• v.54 no.9
• /
• pp.534-544
• /
• 2024

Background and Objectives: Lipid lowering therapy is essential to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events; however, limited evidence exists regarding the use of statin with ezetimibe as primary prevention strategy for middle-aged adults. We aimed to investigate the impact of single pill combination therapy on clinical outcomes in relatively healthy middle-aged patients when compared with statin monotherapy. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, a propensity score match analysis was performed for baseline characteristics of 92,156 patients categorized into combination therapy (n=46,078) and statin monotherapy (n=46,078) groups. Primary outcome was composite outcomes, including death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke. And secondary outcome was all-cause death. The mean follow-up duration was 2.9±0.3 years. Results: The 3-year composite outcomes of all-cause death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke demonstrated no significant difference between the 2 groups (10.3% vs. 10.1%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.022; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.980-1.064; p=0.309). Meanwhile, the 3-year all-cause death rate was lower in the combination therapy group than in the statin monotherapy group (0.2% vs. 0.4%; p<0.001), with a significant HR of 0.595 (95% CI, 0.460-0.769; p<0.001). Single pill combination therapy exhibited consistently lower mortality rates across various subgroups. Conclusions: Compared to the statin monotherapy, the combination therapy for primary prevention showed no difference in composite outcomes but may reduce mortality risk in relatively healthy middle-aged patients. However, since the study was observational, further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.21-43
• /
• 2008

The task network which is formed of different individuals can be recognized as a social network. Therefore, the way to communicate with people inside or outside the network has considerable influence on their outcome. Moreover, the position on which a member stands in a network shows the different effects of the information systems supporting communication with others. In this paper, it is to be studied how personal CMC (computer-mediated communication) tools affect the mission that those who work for a network perform through diverse task networks. Especially, we focused on synchronicity of CMC. On this score, the perspective of Media Synchronicity Theory was taken that had been suggested by criticizing Media Richness Theory. It is the objective, from this perspective, to find which characteristics of networks make the value of IT supporting synchronicity high. In the research trends of social networks, there have been two traditional perspectives to explain the effect of network: embeddedness and diversity ones. These differ from the aspect which type of social network can provide much more economic benefits. As similar studies have been reported by various researchers, these are also divided into the bonding and bridging views which are based on internal and external tie, respectively, Size, density, and centrality were measured as the characteristics of personal task networks. Size means the level of relationship between members. It is the total number of other colleagues who work with a specific member for a certain project. It means, the larger the size of task network, the more the number of coworkers who interact each other through the job. Density is the ratio of the number of relationships arranged actually to the total number of available ones. In an ego-centered network, it is defined as the ratio of the number of relationship made really to the total number of possible ones between members who are actually involved each other. The higher the level of density, the larger the number of projects on which the members collaborate. Centrality means that his/her position is on the exact center of whole network. There are several methods to measure it. In this research, betweenness centrality was adopted among them. It is measured by the position on which one member stands between others in a network. The determinant to raise its level is the shortest geodesic that represents the shortest distance between members. Centrality also indicates the level of role as a broker among others. To verify the hypotheses, we interviewed and surveyed a group of employees of a nationwide financial organization in which a groupware system is used. They were questioned about two CMC applications: MSN with a higher level of synchronicity and email with a lower one. As a result, the larger the size of his/her own task network, the smaller its density and the higher the level of his/her centrality, the higher the level of the effect using the task network with CMC tools. Above all, this positive effect is verified to be much more produced while using CMC applications with higher-level synchronicity. Among the a variety of situations under which the use of CMC gives more benefits, this research is considered as one of rare cases regarding the characteristics of task network as moderators by focusing ITs for the operation of his/her own task network. It is another contribution of this research to prove empirically that the values of information system depend on the social, or comparative, characteristic of time. Though the same amount of time is shared, the social characteristics of users change its value. In addition, it is significant to examine empirically that the ITs with higher-level synchronicity have the positive effect on productivity. Many businesses are worried about the negative effect of synchronous ITs, for their employees are likely to use them for personal social activities. However. this research can help to dismiss the concern against CMC tools.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.185-212
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this paper is to show the empirical analysis way for measuring the seaport efficiency by using the previous radial model and the newly modified non-radial models( panel additive model, panel RAM model, and panel SBM model)with Spearman rank order correlation coefficient(SROCC) for 20 Korean ports during 11 years(1997-2007) for 1 inputs(port investment amount) and 4 outputs(Number of Ship Calls, Port Revenue, Customer Satisfaction Score for Port Service and Container Cargo Throughput). The main empirical results of this paper are as follows. First, consistency ratio of SROCC in terms of efficiency scores between radial and panel Additive model was over about 76% and overall consistency ratio was about 71.6%. Second, an efficiency of panel RAM model was higher than that of radial model with similarity. However, panel SBM model shows the very similar efficiency scores with panel radial model. Third, the slack size of radial model is smaller compared to non-radial model. Models' ranking orders in terms of efficiency scores, number of efficient ports are panel RAM model, panel SBM model, and radial model. The order from the minimum efficiency scores was the same order like just before. The policy implication to the Korean seaports and planner is that Korean seaports should introduce the new methods like non-radial models(panel additive model, panel RAM model, and panel SBM model) for measuring the port performance.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.435-441
• /
• 2013

This retrospective study evaluated the effects of the interval from calving to first insemination (ICFI) and days open (DO) on the reproductive performance in dairy cows. In the first analysis, data from 705 cows were grouped based on the ICFI: short (30-60 days, n=217), medium (61-90 days, n=309), and long (91-150 days, n=179). The occurrence of endometritis was greater in the long group than in short and medium groups (p<0.05). The occurrence of ovarian cysts increased with increasing ICFI (p<0.05), while body condition score (BCS) during the 5 month postpartum period was lower with increasing ICFI (p<0.01). The hazard of pregnancy by 365 days in milk (DIM) was lower (hazard ratio [HR]=0.70, p<0.0001) in the long group, but higher (HR=1.41, p<0.0001) in the short group compared with the medium group. In the second analysis, data from 436 cows were grouped based on the DO: short (30-90 days, n=154), medium (91-180 days, n=183), and long (181-360 days, n=99). The occurrence of a retained placenta was greater in the long group than in the medium group (p < 0.05). Ovarian cysts occurred more frequently in medium and long groups than in the short group (p=0.08). BCS was lower in the short group compared with medium and long groups at month 1 postpartum (p<0.05). Milk yield (kg/day) was greater in the medium group compared with the short group at months 2 to 5 postpartum (p<0.05). The hazard of first insemination by 150 DIM was lower in the long group than in the short group (HR=0.73; p<0.02). The hazard of pregnancy by 365 DIM was lower (HR=0.64, p<0.0001) in the long group than in the medium group, while the hazard did not differ between short and medium groups (p>0.05). Moreover, the culling rate was greater in the long group than in the short group (p<0.05). In conclusion, a longer ICFI and DO resulted in reduced reproductive performance in dairy cows, which was attributable to an increase in postpartum diseases, a lower BCS and a greater milk yield.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.70-78
• /
• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effect of 12-week weight control program including nutrition education, diet therapy and regular exercise on body weight, obesity degree, BMI and blood lipid levels among middle aged obese women. The 31 middle aged obese women participated in the weight control program for 12-week. The body weight, body composition, blood lipid levels and food habit were measured before and after the weight control program. Changes in body weight after 12 week weight control program showed the slight reduction from $67.4{\pm}10.8kg\;to\;65.1{\pm}9.2kg$. Obesity degree and BMI were decreased from $128.4{\pm}19.1%,\;27.8{\pm}3.9\;to\;123.4{\pm}15.7%,\;26.8{\pm}3.0$, respectively. Waist-hip ratio was also decreased from $0.98{\pm}10.16\;to\;0.94{\pm}0.04$. LBM was also slightly reduced from $39.9{\pm}5.6kg\;to\;37.0{\pm}8.5kg$ with the reduction of body fat. The levels of systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride were slightly decreased, HDL-chol level was significantly increased from $43.1{\pm}14.1mg/dL\;to\;50.4{\pm}16.5mg/dL$. Waist-hip ratio was also slightly decreased after 12 weeks. Food habit score was significantly increased after nutriton education and personal counseling about their eating behaviors and nutritional status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.187-198
• /
• 1997

This experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of wilting and additives on fermetation characteristics, quality and aerobic stability of silage of rye(Seca1e cereale L.) harvested at the early heading stage. Harvested rye was wilted or mixed with beet pulp and then treated with formic acid or lactic acid bacteria(LAB) inoculant. Treatments were consisted of direct cut(DC), wilted(WT), beet pulp added(BP), direct cut and formate applied(DF), wilted and formate applied(WF), beet pulp and formate applied(BF), direct cut and LAB inoculated(DL), beet pulp added and LAB inoculated(BL), and wilted and LAB inoculated(WL) silages. Afler 70 days of ensiling period, the silages were opened and exposed to air for 7 days, and the silages of opening day(0 day) were compared with the silages exposed to air for 7 days(7 day). 1. LAB inoculated rye silages(DL, WL, BL) lowered pH values effectively eom the third day of ensiling and showed most stable pattern of pH changes during the initial fermentation process. Direct cut and formate applied(DF), beet pulp and formate applied(BF) and beet pulp added(BP) silages were also effective in lowering pH from the seventh day thai direct cut treatment(DC). 2. pH was low below 3.7 in all treatments of 0 day. After 7-day period of aerobic exposure, DL and WL showed considerable increases in pH from 3.5 and 3.4 to 8.3 and 6.4, respectively. 3. Direct cut rye silages(DF, DC, DL) and beet pulp and formate treatment(BF) produced effluent of 121.2, 85.9, 80.3 and 34.2 mlkg, respectively and these were greater than others(P<0.01). Beet pulp retained 1.61 I/kg of effluent at the application rate of 50 kg/t in comparing BP with DC, and formate application increased the amount of effluent in comparing DF and BF with DC and BP, respectively(P<0.01). 4. Beet pulp and LAB treatment(B1) was highest in content of lactate as 3.1% and formate treated silages(DF, WF, BF) showed lower content of lactate and total acid than others. LAB inoculated(D1, WL, BL) and wilted (WT) silages were graded to be good quality as a second group by the Flieg's score. Formate applied silages (DF, WF, BF) were graded as a foum group lower than DC by one. 5. Residual content of WSC of rye silage was higher in BP, BF, DL and BL than direct cut treatment(M3) (P< 0.01). Formate application had a tendency to increase the content of residual content of WSC. 6. For the ratio of NH3-N to Total N, wilted and LAB inoculated(W1) and direct cut and LAB inoculated(D1) silages were lowest on 0 day as 8.9 and 9.3% respectively. But after 7-day period of aerobic exposure, WL and DL showed largest increase of the ratio of $NH_3-N$ to Total N from 0 day(P<0.01). 7. On 0 day wilted(WT), beet pulp and formate treatment(BF), and beet pulp and LAB treatment(B1) were lower than direct cut treatment(DC) for NDF and ADF concentrations consistently. Formate applied silages (DF, WF, BF) made little change in ADF and NDF concentrations during 7 day period of aerobic exposure. DL and WL showed a large increase in ADF and NDF concentrations under aerobic condition(P<0.01). 8. IVDMD values of wilted(WT), beet pulp added(BP), wilted and LAB inoculated(W1) and beet pulp added and LAB inoculated(B1) silages were higher than direct-cut treatmentPC) as 84.7, 84.7, 84.4 and 83.0%, respectively on 0 day. But during 7-day period of aerobic exposure, a great decreae in IVDMD of WL was showed(P<0.01). The experimental results indicate that wilted silage(WT) could be recommended as the most effective treatment for reducing efluent and increasing quality and feed value of rye silage without deteriorating aerobic stability more than direct cut treatment(DC). Additionally, under unfavorable weather condition beet pulp added and LAB inoculated treatment(T3L) might be the possible alternative for successful ensiling of forage rye.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.91-101
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate dietary intakes and nutritional status among Uganda primary school children from two selected schools in urban and rural areas. Methods: Data were collected from 350 pupils (6-14 years) in Mpigi district, Uganda. All participants were offered a school lunch meal (usually maize porridge and boiled beans). Dietary survey was conducted in October 2016. Data for dietary intake levels were collected by the 24-hour recall method with trained school staffs. The data were converted into nutrient intakes using the CAN-Pro 5.0 Program and compared with KDRIs to evaluate the nutritional status of the subjects. Diet quality indexes such as nutrient density, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ) and a diet diversity index such as diet diversity score (DDS) were calculated to evaluate nutritional status among subjects. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical programs. Results: Results show that the intakes of most nutrients were significantly different by schools. The nutritional status of micro-nutrients was very low in both schools according to analysis of nutritional indexes such as NARs and INQs. Students from both schools should improve intakes of micro-nutrients related to child growth such as calcium, Vitamin B₆, zinc and folate. According to the analysis of dietary diversity, there was difference in dietary patterns by schools presumably due to their locations. Conclusions: This suggests that current meals could not provide adequate nutrients for the subjects and urgent nutrition interventions for school food services are needed to improve their nutritional well-being. New foods supplements based on local cuisine are also needed to ensure dietary diversity and sustainable development plans.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.847-860
• /
• 2006

This study investigated the effects of feeding Charolais steers on diets rich in either n-6 or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and time on feed (TOF) on muscle fatty acid composition and content. Twenty eight steers were fed on ad libitum forage and one of two concentrates varying in the source of fat; soya (high in C18:2 n-6) or whole linseed (high in C18:3 n-3) for either 60 or 90 days in IGER (Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, UK). The concentrates were fed at approximately 0.73 of total DM intake. TOF influenced carcass weight, conformation and fatness scores, which were higher at 90 v. 60 days (P<0.05). Diet did not affect total fatty acid content of neutral lipid in m. longissimus thoracis but feeding linseed increased total phospholipid fatty acid by approx- imately 15%(P<0.05). Linseed increased the amount and proportion of C18:3 n-3 (P<0.001) and the proportion of CLA (cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid), while soya increased the content (P<0.05) and proportion (P<0.001) of C18:2 n-6 in muscle neutral lipid. In muscle phospholipid, linseed significantly increased the amount of CLA, C18:3 n-3 and its longer chain derivatives as well as C14:0, C16:0, C18:0. C18:1 trans and C18:2 n-6. The amount and proportion of C18:2 n-6 and its longer chain C20 derivatives were higher on feeding soya. TOF (90 v. 60 day) increased the content of C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, CLA, C18:1 n-9, C18:2 n-6 and C18:3 n-3 in muscle neutral lipid. The P:S was not affected by diet or TOF. The ratio of C18:2 n-6 : C18:3 n-3 and sum of n-6 : n-3 fatty acids were higher in muscle from animals fed on linseed v. soya (P<0.001). The study indicates that the PUFA composition of beef muscle may be significantly modified by feeding contrasting dietary lipids, soya vs. linseed. Feeding linseed produced a better balance of muscle fatty acids, more in line with current nutritional recommendations with a lower C18:2 n-6:C18:3 n-3 ratio associated with higher muscle content of C18:3 n-3 and C20:5 n-3 and CLA and lower C20:4 n-6.