• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.231-238
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• 2016

Purpose: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is a 65-kDa acute phase protein, derived from the liver, which is present in high concentrations in plasma. Data regarding the association between circulating plasma LBP levels and obesity-related biomarkers in the pediatric population are scarce. We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in plasma LBP levels between overweight/obese and normal-weight adolescents and to assess the correlation of circulating LBP levels with anthropometric measures and obesity-related biomarkers, including insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Methods: The study included 87 adolescents aged 12-13 years; 44 were overweight/obese and 43 were of normal-weight. We assessed anthropometric and laboratory measures, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Plasma LBP levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean age of the participants was $12.9{\pm}0.3$ years. Circulating plasma LBP levels were significantly increased in overweight/obese participants compared with those in normal-weight participants ($7.8{\pm}1.9{\mu}g/mL$ vs. $6.0{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/mL$, P<0.001). LBP levels were significantly and positively associated with BMI, systolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance as indicated by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently and positively associated with plasma LBP levels. Conclusion: LBP is an inflammatory biomarker associated with BMI and obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents. The positive correlation between these parameters suggests a potentially relevant pathophysiological mechanism linking LBP to obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.61-70
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical characteristics of fish meal, bone meal, and sesame oil cake, which are readily available by-products from agriculture and fisheries, during the process of liquid fertilizer fermentation, and to examine the effects of liquid fertilizer application on seed germination and growth of tomatoes. During processing the fermentation for liquid fertilizers by using fish meal, bone meal, and sesame oil cake liquid fertilizers, the pH of the fertilizer increased in the order of bone meal > fish meal > sesame oil cake, and the concentration increased rapidly up to 30 days in all types of liquid fertilizer. The nitrogen content of the liquid fertilizers increased as fermentation progressed in the order of fish meal > bone meal > sesame oil cake. The phosphorus content increased as fermentation progressed and the highest was 1.0 % in the liquid fertilizer of sesame oil cake. The germination rate and its index of radish seeds were compared for different dilutions of each of the liquid fertilizers. Excluding the 10-fold dilution of the fish meal and oil cake liquid fertilizer, all the treatment groups showed a germination rate ≥ 95 % and the germination index tended to increase with dilution rate of liquid fertilizers. For responses of tomato growth, there were no significant differences among the liquid fertilizer treatment groups; however, the organic content, microbial density, and microbial biomass C in the soil were higher than chemical fertilizer treatment. These results demonstrated that there were differences in the characteristics of liquid fertilizers depending on the materials used, and that liquid fertilizer can be used for nutrition management for the organic crop cultivation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2000

Stand level survival prediction model was developed that incorporated the incidence of fusiform rust(Cronartium quercuum [Berk.] Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme) and allowed the transition of trees from an uninfected stage to an infected stage. The influence of hardwood interspecific competition on the survival of unthinned planted stands of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) was analyzed by using of information from twelve years of tracking a set of permanent plots representing a broad range of plantation parameters. Significant interaction effects between site index and hardwood basal area per acre were revealed in the survival model. Survival of the planted pines decreased with increasing density of hardwood trees per acre and site index as the productivity rating of the forest land. The effects of hardwood trees interspecific competition on loblolly pine tended to show a negative effect on predicted future number of planted pine trees.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 2016

Objective : To compare the fusion rate of a hydroxyapatite demineralized bone matrix (DBM) with post-laminectomy acquired autograft in lumbar interbody fusion surgery and to evaluate the correlation between fusion rate and clinical outcome. Methods : From January 2013 to April 2014, 98 patients underwent lumbar interbody fusion surgery with hydroxyapatite DBM (HA-DBM group) in our institute. Of those patients, 65 received complete CT scans for 12 months postoperatively in order to evaluate fusion status. For comparison with autograft, we selected another 65 patients who underwent lumbar interbody fusion surgery with post-laminectomy acquired autograft (Autograft group) during the same period. Both fusion material groups were matched in terms of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD). To evaluate the clinical outcomes, we analyzed the results of visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results : We reviewed the CT scans of 149 fusion levels in 130 patients (HA-DBM group, 75 levels/65 patients; Autograft group, 74 levels/65 patients). Age, sex, BMI, and BMD were not significantly different between the groups (p=0.528, p=0.848, p=0.527, and p=0.610, respectively). The HA-DBM group showed 39 of 75 fused levels (52%), and the Autograft group showed 46 of 74 fused levels (62.2%). This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.21). In the HA-DBM group, older age and low BMD were significantly associated with non-fusion (61.24 vs. 66.68, p=0.027; -1.63 vs. -2.29, p=0.015, respectively). VAS and ODI showed significant improvement after surgery when fusion was successfully achieved in both groups (p=0.004, p=0.002, HA-DBM group; p=0.012, p=0.03, Autograft group). Conclusion : The fusion rates of the hydroxyapatite DBM and Autograft groups were not significantly different. In addition, clinical outcomes were similar between the groups. However, older age and low BMD are risk factors that might induce non-union after surgery with hydroxyapatite DBM.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.392-401
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• 2010

The purpose of the present study was intended to assess psycosocial stress of male researchers working in a Research Institute, and to reveal the relationship between psycosocial stress and coronary risk factors. Data were obtained from 356 male researchers who underwent health package check-up at the health promotion center of a university hospital from May to June 2007, using by self-administered questionnaire & health check-up. For psycosocial stress, we used the questionnaire with 18 items developed as Psychosocial Well-bing Index(PWI). For coronary risk factors, systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP, DBP), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL, LDL), fasting blood sugar(FBS) and % fat rate were measured. As a results, the level of psycosocial stress is influenced by socio-demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics and health-related behaviors. Especially, it was found to have the inter-relational effects that the higher the blood pressure, the higher the level of psycosocial stress.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.882-888
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• 1998

This study was designed as a part of efforts to investigate the biochemical pollutant markers for diagnosis of marine pollutions by changes in lipid components of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in the South Sea of Korea, Hemoglobin levels in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were lower ($4\~17\%$) than those of wild flounder in Pohang as a control group. Triglyceride (TG), Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol contents in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were $12\~25\%,\;9\~19\%$ and $17\~25\%$ respectively which are higher than those of wild flounder in Pohang. Atherogenic index (AI) and T-Chol/PL ratios in serum of cultured flounders in the South Sea were significantly higher($26\~43\%$ and $17\~26\%$ respectively) than those of wild flounder in Pohang. These results suggest that near-coastal water as well as neritic water of the South Sea might be affected by pollutant input as well as the Yellow Sea of Korea.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate CTDI (computed tomography dose index at center) for various phantom shapes, sizes, and compositions by using GATE (geant4 application for tomographic emission) simulations. GATE simulations were performed for various phantom shapes (cylinder, elliptical, and hexagonal prism PMMA phantoms) and phantom compositions (water, PMMA, polyethylene, polyoxymethylene) with various diameters (1-50 cm) at various kVp and mAs levels. The $CTDI_{100center}$ values of cylinder, elliptical, and hexagonal prism phantom at 120 kVp, 200 mAs resulted in 11.1, 13.4, and 12.2 mGy, respectively. The volume is the same, but $CTDI_{100center}$ values are different depending on the type of phantom. The water, PMMA, and polyoxymethylene phantom $CTDI_{100center}$ values were relatively low as the material density increased. However, in the case of Polyethylene, the $CTDI_{100center}$ value was higher than that of PMMA at diameters exceeding 15 cm ($CTDI_{100center}$ : 35.0 mGy). And a diameter greater than 30 cm ($CTDI_{100center}$ : 17.7 mGy) showed more $CTDI_{100center}$ than Water. We have used limited phantoms to evaluate CT doses. In this study, $CTDI_{100center}$ values were estimated and simulated by GATE simulation according to the material and shape of the phantom. CT dosimetry can be estimated more accurately by using various materials and phantom shapes close to human body.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.429-436
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• 1984

To expand the utility of barley the experiments on the extrusion characteristics of barley flour for snack processing were carried out and the effects of the extrusion conditions on the quality of the extrudates were investigated. The optimum moisture content of barley flour for snack processing was 20%. The moisture content and the density of the extrudates decreased with increasing extrusion temperature and decreasing die size. The die swell ranged from 0.98 to 2.18 according to various extrusion conditions and decreased with increasing temperature above $150^{\circ}C$. The lightness, redness and yellowness increased at higher temperature. The water absorption index and the water solubility index showed their maximum values at $180^{\circ}C$.The gelatinization degree of the extrudates increased with increasing temperature. The fracture fore, Young's modulus and maximum fiber stress decreased, but the deformation to fracture increased, with increasing temperature and decreasing die size. The yield force in puncture test showed lower values at higher temperature. The size and the fraction of the air cells increased with increasing temperature and decreasing die size. The optimum extrusion conditions of barley for snack processing were at the temperature of $180^{\circ}C$, with the die size of 4.5mm when processed at 160 rpm.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2005

Objectives : We conducted this study to examine the association between serum GGT levels within the normal range and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases Methods : We examined the cross-sectional association between serum GGT and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLcholesterol), and uric acid among 975 subjects that participated in the health examination of a university hospital located in Daegu city. All the patients' GGT levels were within the normal range. Results : After adjustment were made for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, drinking frequency, exercise frequency and coffee intake, the serum GGT level was positively associated with fasting blood glucose (p<0.01), total cholesterol (p<0.01), and triglyceride (p<0.01) in men, and it was positively associated with fasting blood glucose (p<0.01), total cholesterol (p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01), and uric acid (p<0.01) in women. The associations were not significantly different depending on the status of alcohol drinking or obesity, except for the associations of serum GGT with diastolic blood pressure (P for interaction=0.04) and uric acid (P for interaction=0.04) between the lean and obese subjects. Conclusions : Serum GGT levels within the normal range were positively associated with fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and uric acid in most subgroups irrespective of the drinking or obesity status. These results suggest that GGT has important clinical implications as being more than just a marker of alcohol consumption and hepatobiliary disease.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.262-271
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate incorporation ratio of soil amendment 'Profile' to improve soil physicochemical properties and turfgrass growth. The soil amendment was added 0 (sand only), 3, 5, 7, and 10% to USGA Green-spec green sand soil. As incorporated with more 'Profile' amendment, soil electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), capillary porosity and total porosity of root zone were increased than those of control, while bulk density and hydraulic conductivity decreased. Turfgrass index and clipping yield of creeping bentgrass grown in sand soil incorporated with 7% 'Profile' were improved than those of control. Correlation coefficient of turf color index and incorporation ratio of the soil amendment 'Profile' was found to show significantly positive correlation. These results indicated that application of the soil amendment 'Profile' to sand soil in golf course green improved turfgrass growth and quality by increasing CEC and porosity of root zone.