• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1617-1626
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• 2024

Various antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are known to induce repeated pulmonary infections and increase morbidity and mortality. A thorough knowledge of antibiotic resistance is imperative for clinical practice to treat resistant pulmonary infections. In this study, we used a reads-based method and an assembly-based method according to the metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) data to reveal the spectra of ARB and corresponding antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in samples from patients with pulmonary infections. A total of 151 clinical samples from 144 patients with pulmonary infections were collected for retrospective analysis. The ARB and ARGs detection performance was compared by the reads-based method and assembly-based method with the culture method and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), respectively. In addition, ARGs and the attribution relationship of common ARB were analyzed by the two methods. The comparison results showed that the assembly-based method could assist in determining pathogens detected by the reads-based method as true ARB and improve the predictive capabilities (46% > 13%). ARG-ARB network analysis revealed that assembly-based method could promote determining clear ARG-bacteria attribution and 101 ARGs were detected both in two methods. 25 ARB were obtained by both methods, of which the most predominant ARB and its ARGs in the samples of pulmonary infections were Acinetobacter baumannii (ade), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mex), Klebsiella pneumoniae (emr), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (sme). Collectively, our findings demonstrated that the assembly-based method could be a supplement to the reads-based method and uncovered pulmonary infection-associated ARB and ARGs as potential antibiotic treatment targets.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2018

There are few available studies for insect diversity in relation to coastal dune despite the unique landscape features and high conservation value. Therefore, this study compared ground beetle assemblages inhabiting between windbreak forests and sand dunes in the Taeanhaean National Park. It investigated five windbreak forests and three coastal dunes using pitfall traps from middle of June to middle of October in 2014. A total of 2,335 ground beetles belonging to 30 species of 15 genera were collected. Synuchus arcuarticollis (158 individuals) and Dolichus halensis halensis (153 individuals) were dominant of 25 specifies collected from sand dunes while Synuchus arcuarticollis (1,630 individuals), Synuchus nitidus (130 individuals), and Synuchus cycloderus (42 individuals) were dominant of 14 species collected from windbreak forests. The similarity of ground beetles compositions in sand dunes and windbreak forests was significantly low at 27.4%. The results of this study showed that sand dune geographical features found in the Taeanhaean National Park had different insect assemblages from windbreak forests. It will be the useful information for conservation of insects in the future.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.42
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• pp.229-249
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• 2015

As the post-cold war era and globalization go on, national security problems which were not traditional national security problems such as terrorism, crime, environmental disasters, economic crises, cyber-terrorism, diseases, and energy problems threat humanity and nations and demands changes. Also, with the change, the concept of "big government" has emerged as the role of nation expanded. The modern society sees every country change from small government to big government in order to realize the establishment of welfare state. A comprehensive interpretation of security is needed in order to comprehensive protection of citizens beyond outside invasion such as crime, new disaster, terrorism. In Korea, incidents such as Cheonan-Ham, Yeonpeyong-Do, foot-and-mouth disease, Ddos terrorism, pirates hostages, mad cow disease, AI are happening and the humanitarian support for North Korea and the summit of South and North Korea are at a standstill. Also, National emergency management system, comprehensive emergency management center, countrol tower, national security system, cooperation with citizens, establishment of legal and institutional system are needed. The importance of this research is on the reestablishment of new national security and emergency management system according to the comparison between the national security and counter-terrorism system of Korea and that of the United States which is a leading country in this field. Also, the establishment of national emergency management act is needed as a statute for effective function as currently various laws and administrative organizations are dispersed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2022

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on body composition, physical strength, blood lipids, and insulin. Methods : The study was conducted on 24 elderly women divided into two groups: 12 subjects in an exercise group and 12 subjects in a control group. Resistance exercise was performed for 50 minutes a day, three times a week, for the duration of 12 weeks, and body composition, physical strength, blood lipids, and insulin were measured before and after the subjects completed the program. For the statistical analysis, the mean and standard deviation (M±SD) of each variable were calculated using SPSS version 20, and a paired t-test and two-way repeated ANOVA were conducted to test for the differences before and after the resistance exercise. All significant levels were set to α=.05 as a result of the experiment. Results : Changes in body composition after the 12-week resistance exercise program did not show any significant difference based on the comparison between the groups, but when noting the values for body fat percentage and body in the control group before and after, a significant difference was shown in fat mass (p<.05). As for changes in physical fitness, significant differences appeared in flexibility, muscle strength, and stenotic force (p<.01) when the groups were compared. Regarding pre- and post-values within each group concerning flexibility within the exercise group, significant differences were shown in gender (p<.001), muscle strength (p<.05), (p<.01), muscle earth strength, equilibrium (p<.01), stenosis force, and cardiopulmonary earth force (p<.001). Also, comparisons between populations in changes in blood lipids the values before and after in each group, significant differences in glucose (p<.05) and insulin (p<.05) were shown in the exercise group. When comparing the values before and after in each population, a significant difference was shown in the control group (p<.05). Conclusion : When all the results were integrated, the 12-week resistance exercise program was found to enhance physical strength (flexibility, muscle strength, and coordination) and improve the blood sugar levels of elderly women. In particular, resistance exercise is believed to lower the prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic diseases by having a positive effect on insulin. Further studies are suggested to verify the effect on body composition and blood lipids by setting up a variety of exercise treatment methods (including subjects, exercise periods, exercise plans, and exercise intensity focuses).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.611-615
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• 2002

Pneumoconiosis is fibrogenic disease, caused by inhalation of mineral dust. It is defined as the accumulation of dust in the lung and tissue reaction to its presence and the dust is considered to be an aerosal of solid and inanimate particles. It is among the most common and the most important occupational lung disease, especially in developing countries. It is required three prerequisites for making a clinical diagnosis of pneumoconiosis: 1) a full clinical and occupational history together with the result of physical examination; 2) previous X-ray for comparison; and 3) a clear understanding of the time scale involved in the progression of the diseases. Most pneumoconiosises are slow to evolve and changes in the appearances take many months -usually years- to occur. Pneumoconiosis is represented on a plain X-ray of the chest as multiple small round opacities, usually smaller than 1cm diameter. In 58 years old female patient, pneumoconiosis is manifested as $5{\times}4{\times}3$cm sized solitary pulmonary nodule without any occupational history and past history of exposure of dust. so we treated this case with right upper lobectomy. Therefore we report this case with a brief review of literatures.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.170-175
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• 2009

Purpose : FSGS do not respond well to any kind of therapy and gradually progress to end-stage renal disease. This study was conducted to investigate the difference of protein expression between MCNS and FSGS as a preliminary study for understanding the pathophysiology of FSGS. Methods : Renal biopsy samples of MCNS and FSGS were obtained, which was diagnosed by one pathologist. They were solubilized with a conventional extraction buffer for protein extraction. The solution was applied on immobilized linear gradient strip gel (pH 4-7) using IPGphor system. Silver staining was carried out according to standard method. Protein identification was done by searching NCBI database using MASCOT Peptide Mass Fingerprint software. Results : The differences in protein expressions between MCNS and FSGS were shown by increased or decreased protein spots. Most prominently expressed spot among several spots in FSGS was isolated and analyzed, one of which was glutathione S-transferase (GST) P1-1, whereas it was not found in MCNS. So GSTP1-1 was considered as the one of the key biomarkers in pathogenesis of FSGS. Conclusion : This result would be helpful in diagnosing FSGS and researching FSGS. Further studies for glutathione S-transferase P1-1 might be necessary to elucidate the mechanisms regarding FSGS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Purpose: Fruit and vegetable juices are known to be rich sources of antioxidants, which have beneficial effects on diseases caused by oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the antioxidant activities of fruit and vegetable juices marketed in Korea. Methods: We analyzed four fruit juices, two vegetable juices, two yellow-green juices, and six mixed vegetable juices. Antioxidant activities were analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) test, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. Protective effects against DNA damage were determined using an ex vivo comet assay with human lymphocytes. Results: DPPH radical scavenging activities were in the following order: blueberry juice > mixed vegetable C juice > kale juice > mixed vegetable P juice > grape juice. ABTS radical scavenging activities were in the following order: blueberry juice > mixed vegetable C juice > grape juice > mixed vegetable P juice > kale juice. Peroxyl radical scavenging activities as assessed by ORAC assay were in the following order: blueberry juice > kale juice > mixed vegetable C juice > grape juice. Grape or blueberry juice showed strong abilities to prevent DNA damage in lymphocytes, and the difference between them was not significant according to the GSTM1/GSTT1 genotype. Conclusion: Antioxidant activities of fruit and vegetable juices and ex vivo DNA protective activity increased in the order of blueberry juice, grape juice, and kale juice, although the rankings were slightly different. Therefore, these juices rich in polyphenols and flavonoids deserve more attention for their high antioxidant capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2024

Renal ultrasound can detect kidney diseases by observing the size and shape of the kidneys, but its functional predictive value is relatively low. Kidney function can decrease by 20-30% without significant clinical changes or specific symptoms. This study aimed to confirm the limitations of renal ultrasound in functional aspects while acknowledging its usefulness in structural evaluation. It compared and analyzed the results of kidney function tests (serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen, proteinuria, hematuria) according to age and gender in a normal group without structural abnormalities on renal ultrasound. In the comparison of kidney function tests by gender, differences were observed in BUN, Creatinine, GFR, and RBC, while no difference was found in Urine Protein, indicating functional differences between genders. Significant differences were observed in BUN and GFR across age groups, with GFR showing a decreasing trend with increasing age. Between genders, significant differences were found in BUN, creatinine, GFR, and RBC. Men had higher BUN and creatinine levels, while women had higher GFR. The prevalence of abnormalities in blood tests was 3.3%, and in urine tests was 6.1%. These limitations suggest that renal ultrasound alone may not be sufficient. It is essential to consider other diagnostic methods and conduct various tests in combination to more accurately evaluate kidney function and potentially detect problems early in asymptomatic adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.642-655
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• 2022

Purpose: We examined the effects of the 8-week moderate-intensity Pilates exercise program on body composition, balance ability, metabolic parameters, arterial condition, and eating habits among overweight and obese women. Methods: From the general sample of overweight or obese Korean women (body mass index ≥ 23 kg/m² ), those who had not been diagnosed with any chronic degenerative diseases were enrolled in the study (n = 39). After 8 weeks of the Pilates exercise program, the participants were subdivided into adherence and non-adherence groups. Among the study participants, 24 women were matched for age and menopausal status to reduce the bias, and then finally included for the comparison (Pilates-adherence, n = 12; Pilates-non-adherence, n = 12). Results: The body balance measured by the Y-balance test, body mass index, and subcutaneous fat areas were significantly improved in both groups. However, the Pilate-sadherence group showed more positive changes in body balance and had significant improvement in body composition parameters such as waist size, visceral fat area, systolic blood pressure, arterial aging index, fasting blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin than the Pilates-non-adherence group. In addition, the nutrition quotient for Korean adults (balance, moderation, and behavior except diversity) were significantly improved in both groups after dietary education. However, the participants did not show dramatic improvement in the metabolic parameters, because all the study subjects were in relatively good health and did not have any diagnosed diseases. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that higher adherence to the Pilates exercise program together with a modification of eating habits may effectively improve body balance, body composition, and obesity-related parameters among overweight and obese women.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.148-153
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• 1997

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic role of a three-dimensional MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) over endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in various extrah-epatic biliary disease. Materials and Methods: MRCP and ERCP were performed in 45 consecutive patients with suspected extrahepatic biliary diseases. MRCP was obtained using a reverse fast imaging with a steady-state free precession (reverse FISP: PSIF) sequence, and then images were reconstructed by standard MIP algorithm. The predictability of biliary dilatation and level of obstruction of MRCP was evaluated using ERCP as a gold standard. The accuracy distinguishing malignant from benign lesions, and overall diagnostic accuracy were compared between MRCP and ERCP. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP in predicting biliary dilatation were 94.6%, 75.0% and 91.1%, respectively. The level of obstruction was accurate in 87.0% with MRCP. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRCP and ERCP in distinguishing malignant from benign lesions were 76.2%, 87.5% and 82.2% and 71.4%, 83.3% and 77.8%, respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 60.0% with MRCP and 55.6% with ERCP. Conclusion: 3D MRCP shows a good diagnostic value compared to that of ERCP, and can replace a ERCP.