• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2010

We analyzed parasitic diseases diagnosed by tissue biopsy specimens at KyungHee Medical Center (KMC) from 1984 to 2005. The total number of parasite infection cases was 150 (0.07%) out of the total 211,859 biopsy specimens submitted for histopathological examinations. They consisted of 62 cysticercosis, 23 sparganosis, 16 paragonimiasis, 15 amebiasis, 11 anisakiasis, 11 clonorchiasis, 3 ascariasis, 2 scabies, 2 enterobiasis, 2 trichuriasis, 1 leishmaniasis, 1 taeniasis, and 1 thelaziasis. Out of 62 cysticercosis cases, 55 were detected in subcutaneous tissues or the central nerve system. Eighteen out of 23 sparganosis cases were involved in muscular and subcutaneous tissues. In most anisakiasis cases, the involved organ was the stomach. The lung and the pleura were the most common site of paragonimiasis. The incidence of parasitic diseases during the first 5 years (1984-1988) was the highest of all observed periods. After 1989, similar incidences were shown throughout the period. Whereas cysticercosis was diagnosed in 34 cases during 1984-1988, no case has been diagnosed since 2000. In the case of sparganosis, the chronological incidence was almost uniform throughout the period 1984-2005. Paragonimiasis showed a similar tendency to cysticercosis. In gender and age distribution of parasitic diseases, men showed higher incidence rates than females, and the age groups of the 40s or older indicated higher infection frequencies than other age groups. Therefore, these results are a significant report to appear the tendency of human parasitic disease diagnosed by tissue biopsy in association with parasitosis at KMC in Seoul.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.61-75
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation between obese degree, result of hair tissue mineral analysis and bony maturation. And we also wanted to compare the differences between early bony maturation group(EBM) and late bony maturation group(LBM). Methods : 146 subjects who visited growth clinic were measured by BMI, PBF(percent body fat), percent BMI, bone age esimation and HTMA(hair tissue mineral analysis). The patients were classified into two groups - EBM, LBM group - according to the gap of bone age and chronological age. It was analysed that the correlation of bony maturation and obese degree, nutritional elements, heavy metals, significant ratio of nutritional elements. Also, analysed the differences between groups. Results : 1. BMI, percent BMI had a correlation with bony maturation, PBF however didn't have a correlation with it. 2. Ca, Mg, Zn and P had a positive correlation with bony maturation, and also K, Cr and Mo had a negative correlation. 3. U, As and Cd had a negative correlation with bony maturation. 4. Ca/P, Na/K, Ca/K and Zn/Cu had a positive correlation with bony maturation, and also Na/Mg, Ca/Mg had a negative correlation. 5. Percent BMI, Ca, Mg, Mn and Ca/p were higher in EBM group. 6. K, Mo and Hg were lower in EBM group. Conclusion : According to this study it could be suggested that maintaining proper percent BMI and accumulation of nutritional elements, heavy metals to prevent early bony maturation.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2001

In total, 29 $^{14}C$ dates were obtained from Paleolithic sites in the Korean peninsula. If not the dates from the Sorori peat layers, the number will be less than 20. Low boundary of Upper Paleolithic could be estimated by some early of the dates from Blade stone industries. Couple of $^{14}C$ dates indicate that beginning of Upper Paleolithic industries could approach to 40 K BP, but it is premature to establish fine chronology of Upper Paleolithic. Some of the $^{14}C$ dates of microlithic industries probably represent too earlier age than generally thought. Tentatively, the beginning of microlithic industries may go back to an age of slightly older than 20 K BP, as indicated in Janghungri, Sokchangni, Noeundong etc. The obtained $^{14}C$ dates at present are very important for construction of Paleolithic chronology. but it is necessary to accumulate for more $^{14}C$ dates in future along with results from other dating techniques and to reconstruct site formation processes for obtaining objective age of stone industries.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-300
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• 2017

This study analyzes the images of models in womenswear advertisements targeting women in their fifties. The goals of this study are: 1) to investigate beauty ideals for middle-aged women by analyzing models' look age, chronological age, wrinkles, gray hair, hair length, body type, and race; and 2) to explore how ageing is dealt with in advertisements by analyzing the range of bodies shown in advertisements, the color mode of photographs, and the clarity of models' figures in relation to models' look ages. A total of 155 printed advertisements from January 2012 to January 2017 from the brands Daks Ladies, Lebeige, Luciano Choi, PAT, and Zishen were selected for analysis. Womenswear brands targeting middle-aged women reinforce cultural ideals of female beauty that emphasize youth and slenderness. They do this by using thin and slender models, who most often appear to be in their twenties and thirties, and have hair longer than their shoulders. Brands with higher price ranges show a preference for Caucasian models, which reveals that a Caucasian identity is associated with sophistication. In addition, the bodies of models who appear to be in their forties and fifties were concealed by framing photographs mostly above the knees. Older models' features were also obscured via the use of black and white photography, strong lighting and contrast, and digital editing that blurred the boundaries between figures and their backgrounds. These decisions for how to represent models could result in negative self-esteem and a denial of the symptoms of ageing among middle-aged women.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.68-80
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• 1992

In order to provide data basic to the training of hospice volunteers, this study was carried out to investigate the personal attributes and the Death Orientation of hospice volunteers. 80 hospice volunteers were sampled from those registered on Seoul Catholic Social Service and Korean Association for Volunteers Effort conveniently. Data were gathered from August 16th to October 3rd, 1991. The instrument used for this study was the Death Orientation Questionnaire developed by Thorson and Powell, subjective age and religiosity questionnaire developed by Bell and Batterson, and subjective health criteria developed by Baumann. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, and t-test by SPSS - program. Result of this study are summarized as follows ; 1. The majority of hospice volunteers perceived younger in their subjective age than their chronological age (65%), Perceived themselves to be healthy subjectively(88.8%), and revealed to have high religiosity score(96.3%) 2. Level of Death Orientation of hospice volunteers was revealed to be moderate.(Mn＝2.06, SD＝0.40, range, 1.45-3.53) Among 25 Death Orientation items, respondents revealed the highest concern over the afterlife (Mn＝3.53, SD＝0.71), revealed the lowest anxiety about not knowing the next world after his or her death(Mn＝1.45, SD＝0.69), and relatively high concern over leaving careful instructions after death (Mn＝2.97, SD＝0.83) Respondents revealed low Death Orientation score(below 1.99) to 12 negative items(2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22). Thus hospice volunteers seem to be preparing for their own death and shown positive Death Orientation to some items relatively. 3. According to personal attributes (demographic, socioecnomic, and relevant variables) of hospice volunteers, there were no significant statistic differences of Death Orientation score. Thus pre-existing Death Orientation of hospice volunteers and their motive of participation to the hospice service are to be considered important variables influencing the Death Orientation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.313-321
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• 2021

Here we describe the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,500 g) at 3 years of age in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ) database in the past decade and review the methodological issues identified in follow-up studies. The follow-up protocol for children at 3 years of chronological age in the NRNJ consists of physical and comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments in each participating center. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)-moderate to severe neurological disability-is defined as cerebral palsy (CP) with a Gross Motor Function Classification System score ≥2, visual impairment such as uni- or bilateral blindness, hearing impairment requiring hearing amplification, or cognitive impairment with a developmental quotient (DQ) of Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development score <70 or judgment as delayed by pediatricians. We used death or NDI as an unfavorable outcome in all study subjects and NDI in survivors using number of assessed infants as the denominator. Follow-up data were collected from 49% of survivors in the database. Infants with follow-up data had lower birth weights and were of younger gestational age than those without follow-up data. Mortality rates of 40,728 VLBW infants born between 2003 and 2012 were 8.2% before discharge and 0.7% after discharge. The impairment rates in the assessed infants were 7.1% for CP, 1.8% for blindness, 0.9% for hearing impairment, 15.9% for a DQ <70, and 19.1% for NDI. The mortality or NDI rate in all study subjects, including infants without follow-up data, was 17.4%, while that in the subjects with outcome data was 32.5%. The NRNJ follow-up study results suggested that children born with a VLBW remained at high risk of NDI in early childhood. It is important to establish a network follow-up protocol and complete assessments with fewer dropouts to enable clarification of the outcomes of registered infants.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.30.1-30.7
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• 2020

Background: Dental studies of precocious puberty have focused on examination of jaw and dentition growth. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between precocious puberty and maxillary dental developmental abnormalities (DDAs). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on the Korean patients in whom dental panoramic and hand-wrist radiographs had been taken before they were 15 years of age. The maxillary DDAs were assessed as mesiodens, congenital missing teeth, peg-shape lateral incisors, or impacted teeth. The chronological ages of the control group members were within the normal range of the hand-wrist bone age. Others with a peak luteinizing hormone of ≥ 5 and < 5 IU/L were allocated to central precocious puberty (CPP) and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP), respectively. Results: Of the enrolled 270 patients, 195, 52, and 23 were allocated to the control, CPP, and PPP groups, respectively. The maxillary DDAs were significantly more prevalent in the CPP group than in the other groups. Among those with maxillary DDA, the mesiodens predominated. Age- and sex-adjusted multivariate analysis revealed maxillary DDA (odds ratio, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.60-7.05) and especially mesiodens (odds ratio, 5.52; CI, 2.29-13.28) to be significantly associated with CPP. Conclusions: Maxillary DDAs were significantly more prevalent in the CPP group than in the PPP or control groups. Among the many types of maxillary DDAs, mesiodens was significantly associated with CPP and may be considered a predictor of the development of CPP.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2018

Aggrecan is a proteoglycan in the extracellular matrix of growth plate and cartilaginous tissues. Aggrecanopathy has been reported as a genetic cause not only for severe skeletal dysplasia but also for autosomal dominant short stature with normal to advanced bone age. We report a novel heterozygous mutation of ACAN in a Korean family with proportionate short stature identified through targeted exome sequencing. We present a girl of 4 years and 9 months with a family history of short stature over three generations. The paternal grandmother is 143 cm tall (-3.8 as a Korean standard deviation score [SDS]), the father 155 cm (-3.4 SDS), and the index case 96.2 cm (-2.9 SDS). Evaluation for short stature showed normal growth hormone (GH) peaks in the GH provocation test and a mild delayed bone age for chronological age. This subject had clinical characteristics including a triangular face, flat nasal bridge, prognathia, blue sclerae, and brittle teeth. The targeted exome sequencing was applied to detect autosomal dominant growth palate disorder. The novel variant c.910G>A (p.Asp304Asn) in ACAN was identified and this variant was found in the subject's father using Sanger sequencing. This is the first case of Korean familial short stature due to ACAN mutation. ACAN should be considered for proportionate idiopathic short stature, especially in cases of familial short stature.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.363-388
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• 2019

This study examined the influence of subjective age on subjective well-being and depression, and the mediating effect of meaning in life. A survey of 394 adults aged 40 or older completed a questionnaire concerning subjective age perception, meaning in life, subjective well-being, and depression. The main results are summarized as follows. First, the analysis of subjective age according to the sociodemographic variables showed that middle-aged and elderly people, who were highly educated and had good perceived health status, felt themselves younger than their counterparts did. Second, a young subjective age had a positive effect on meaning in life and subjective well-being while negatively influencing depression. Third, meaning in life significantly mediated the relationship among subjective age, subjective well-being, and depression. In other words, the younger the middle- and old-aged adults perceived themselves, the more meaning they found in life, which led to higher subjective well-being and lower depression. These findings suggest that, as people get older, perceiving themselves as younger than their chronological age can protect their mental health, and meaning in life plays an important role in the process.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.362-371
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate difficulties in using prosodic information to identify the meaning of ambiguous sentences in children with high functioning autism (HFA). Fifteen high functioning autistic children and fifteen children who matched their chronological age (CA) participated in this study. We compared the performance of the two groups by conducting syntactically and affectively ambiguous sentence comprehension (SASC and AASC) tasks. The results of this study show that in both tasks, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant at each condition and the performance of high functioning autistic children was significantly lower. In a correlation analysis of major variables, children who matched CA showed a correlation between prosody-only (PO) and AASC, while children with HFA showed a correlation between PO and MO (morpheme-only). Children with HFA used grammatical morpheme information to understand general sentences. We found that the ability to use prosodic information in children with HFA is significantly lower than that of normally developed children. Considering the relevance of prosody to linguistic, non-linguistic and emotional aspects of communication, improving prosodic perception is thought to be a way to mediate deficits in the comprehension of ambiguous sentences in children with HFA.