• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.87 no.1
• /
• pp.80-90
• /
• 2024

Background: There are many methods of evaluating diaphragmatic function, including trans-diaphragmatic pressure measurements, which are considered the key rule of diagnosis. We studied the clinical usefulness of chest ultrasonography in evaluating stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and those in exacerbation, focusing on diaphragmatic measurements and their correlation with spirometry and other clinical parameters. Methods: In a prospective case-control study, we enrolled 100 COPD patients divided into 40 stable COPD patients and 60 patients with exacerbation. The analysis included 20 age-matched controls. In addition to the clinical assessment of the study population, radiological evaluation included chest radiographs and chest computed tomography. Transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) was performed for all included subjects. Results: Multiple A lines (more than 3) were more frequent in COPD exacerbation than in stable patients, as was the case for B-lines. TUS significantly showed high specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy in detecting pleural effusion, consolidation, pneumothorax, and lung mass. Diaphragmatic measurements were significantly lower among stable COPD subjects than healthy controls. Diaphragmatic thickness and excursion displayed a significant negative correlation with body mass index and the dyspnea scale, and a positive correlation with spirometry measures. Patients in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group D showed lower diaphragmatic measurements (thickness and excursion). Conclusion: The TUS of COPD patients both in stable and exacerbated conditions and the assessment of diaphragm excursion and thickness by TUS in COPD patients and their correlations to disease-related factors proved informative and paved the way for the better management of COPD patients.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.4_spc
• /
• pp.730-741
• /
• 2024

Pig production is one of the viable enterprises of the livestock sub-sector of agriculture. It contributes significantly to the economy and animal protein supply to enhance food security in Africa and globally. This article explored the present status of pig production in Africa, the challenges, prospects and potentials. The pig population of Africa represents 4.6% of the global pig population. They are widely distributed across Africa except in Northern Africa where pig production is not popular due to religio-cultural reasons. They are mostly reared in rural parts of Africa by smallholder farmers, informing why majority of the pig population in most parts of Africa are indigenous breeds and their crosses. Pig plays important roles in the sustenance of livelihood in the rural communities and have cultural and social significance. The pig production system in Africa is predominantly traditional, but rapidly growing and transforming into the modern system. The annual pork production in Africa has grown from less than a million tonnes in year 2000 to over 2 million tonnes in 2021. Incidence of disease outbreak, especially African swine fever is one of the main constraints affecting pig production in Africa. Others are lack of skills and technical know-how, high ambient temperature, limited access to high-quality breeds, high cost of feed ingredients and veterinary inputs, unfriendly government policies, religious and cultural bias, inadequate processing facilities as well as under-developed value-chain. The projected human population of 2.5 billion in Africa by 2050, increasing urbanization and decreasing farming population are pointers to the need for increased food production. The production systems of pigs in Africa requires developmental research, improvements in housing, feed production and manufacturing, animal health, processing, capacity building and pig friendly policies for improved productivity and facilitation of export.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.36-51
• /
• 2014

Objectives: cDNA microarray is an effective method to snapshot gene expression. Functional clustering of gene expressions can identify herbal medicine mechanisms. Much microarray data is available for various herbal medicines. This study compares regulated genes with herbal medicines to evaluate the nature of the drugs. Methods: Published microarray data were collected. Total RNAs were prepared from dissociated hippocampal dissociate cultures which were given hypoxic shock in the presence of each herbal medicine. Up- or downregulated genes higher than Global M value 0.5 were selected, clustered in functional groups, and compared with various herbal treatments. Results: 1. Akt2 was upregulated by Acorus gramineus SOLAND, Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$ and Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$, and they belong to Araceae herb. 2. Nf-${\kappa}b1$, Cd5, $Gn{\gamma}7$ and Sgne1 were upregulated by Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$, Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$ and Rheum coreanum $N_{AKAI}$. 3. Woohwangcheongsim-won, Sohaphyang-won and Scutellaria baicalensis $G_{EORGI}$ downregulated Scp2 and upregulated Tsc2. Woohwangcheongsim-won and Sohaphyang-won upregulated Hba1 and downregulated Myf6. 4. Sohaphyang-won and Scutellaria baicalensis $G_{EORGI}$ downregulated Slc12a1. 5. Woohwangcheongsim-won and Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$ upregulated $Rar{\alpha}$, Woohwangcheongsim-won and Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$ downregulated Rab5a and $Pdgfr{\alpha}$, and Woohwangcheongsim-won and Rheum coreanum $N_{AKAI}$ upregulated $Plc{\gamma}1$ and downregulated Pla2g1b and Slc10a1. Conclusions: By clustering microarray, genes are commonly identified to be either up- or downregulated. These results will provide new information to understand the efficacy of herbal medicines and to classify them at the molecular level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2008

This study was designed to develop microencapsulated Korean mistletoe extract, to determine the stability in vitro and to examine its application in milk. Coating materials used were polyglycerol monostearate (PGMS) and medium-chain triacylglyderol (MCT). The highest efficiency of microencapsulation was 78.3% with 15:1:40 (w/w/v) as PGMS : mistletoe extract : distilled water and 66.1% with 15:1 (w/w) as MCT : mistletoe extract. The size of microcapsule was about 30.0 and $19.5{\mu}m$ with PGMS and MCT, respectively. When microcapsules of mistletoe extract were incubated in simulated gastric fluid at pH 2 for 60 min, 14.8 and 17.2% of lectin was released from capsules which were coated with PGMS and MCT, respectively. Comparatively, 83.2 and 87.3% of lectin was released in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 8) after 60 min incubation of capsules coated with PGMS and MCT, respectively. The subsequent study determined the changes of physicochemical and sensory characteristics of milk with fortification of the mistletoe extract microcapsules during 12 day storage. TBA value was significantly lower in microcapsule-added groups than in the uncapsulated mistletoe extract-added group during the storage. When 100 ppm microencapsulated mistletoe extract was added, the L-, a- and b- values and viscosity were not significantly different from those of the control. In addition, the release of lectin from mistletoe extract over 12 days was 8.3 and 9.5 mg/100 ml in milk containing microcapsules made by PGMS and MCT, respectively. All sensory attributes showed a significant difference in uncapsulated mistletoe extract-added milk compared with other groups. The present study indicated that microcapsules of Korean mistletoe extract could be applied to milk and microcapsules coated with PGMS were effectively released in a simulated intestinal environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.321-332
• /
• 2015

In an attempt to find the improvement of the fishing efficiency according to the hull form remodeling for the 3 tuna purse seiner, the Catch-Per-Unit-Effort (CPUE) for that undertaken before (2008) and after (2010) was analyzed. In addition, the CPUE of 6 similar ships operated same period and same fishing ground. As result, it came to verify that the three modified ships had a significant value on the CPUE. An another index for the improvement of fishing efficiency is the rate of reduction of fuel oil consumption for the modified ships. Fuel oil consumption per day in service speed as comparing with the original ships were reduced 2.1%, 4.0% and 5.1% on the modified ship A, B, and C respectively. And each ship's service speed was increased 1.0 kt, 0.6 kt, and 0.4 kt according to the modified ship A, B, and C in due order. In the conclusion, the remodeling job with newly equipped bulbous bow, lengthened slipway and enlarged rudder area were improved fairly much on fuel oil efficiency, the ship's speed, and in the end, that led to the improving fishing efficiency. Hence, the remodeling of tuna purse seiner come to improve not only the fishing performance, but contribute to the reduction of operating cost by saving energy for the fisheries industry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 1990

The solution for wind drift current in a three-layered open sea region is derived using the Galerkin-Eigenfunction mothod. The presence of discontinuities in the vertical eddy viscosity required a definition of a scalar product which involves the summation of integrals defined over each layer. The expansion of fourth-order B-spline functions is used in determining eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions. In a three-layered system a low value of eddy viscosity is prescribed within the pycnocline to represent the suppression of turburent intensity at the thermocline level. A high concentration of knots within the pycnocline is important in determining eigenfunctions and the associated eigenvalues accurately. Due to the global property of eigenfunctions nonphysical oscillations appear in the current profiles below the surface layer, particularly within the pycnocline.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.1368-1375
• /
• 2004

Measurements of OH chemiluminescence in an atmospheric pressure, laboratory-scale dump combustor at equivalence ratios ranging from 0.63 to 0.89 were reported. The signal from the first electronically excited state of OH to ground state was detected through a band-pass filter with an ICCD. The objectives of this study are two: One is to see the effects of equivalence ratio on global heat release rate and local Rayleigh index distribution. To get the local Rayleigh index distribution, the line-of-sight images were inverted by tomographic method, such as Abel do-convolution. Another aim is to investigate the validity of using OH chemiluminescence acquired with an ICCD as a qualitative measure of local heat release. For constant inlet velocity and temperature, the overall intensities of OH emission acquired at different equivalence ratio showed periodic and higher value at high equivalence ratio. OH intensity averaged over one period of pressure increased exponentially with equivalence ratio. Local Rayleigh index distribution clearly showed the region of amplifying or damping the combustion instability as equivalence ratio increased. It could provide an information/insights on active control such as secondary fuel injection. Finally, local heat release rate derived from reconstructed OH images were presented fur typical locations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4765-4771
• /
• 2014

Background: Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) may have compromised health related quality of life (HRQoL). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been the leading cause of CLD including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Knowledge on different symptom profiles of CLD should help in development of comprehensive treatment and patient care plans. Objective: To access the facets of HRQoL in chronic liver diseases throughout their spectrum of severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in Yunnan Province of China. Both out- and inpatients undergoing treatment protocols for different HBV related liver disease states were consecutively collected from December 2012 to June 2013. ANOVA was used to compare the mean scores of EQ-5D and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) among 5 disease groups. The relationship between demographic variables predicting global CLDQ scores and the domains of CLDQ was analysed. Results: A total of 1040 patients including 520 without complications, 91 with compensated cirrhosis, 198 with decompensated cirrhosis, 131 with HCC and 100 with liver failure were recruited. All domains of CLDQ, the means of EQ-5D value and EQ VAS exhibited significant decline with worsening of disease severity from uncomplicated HBV to liver failure. The multivariate regression demonstrated the reduction of mean scores of CLDQ domain at advanced stage. Patients with liver failure and HCC had more HRQoL impairment than other disease states. No effect of patient gender was found. Patient age was associated with 'fatigue' and 'worry' domains (p=0.006; p=0.004) but not with other domains and global scores of CLDQ and ED-5D. Conclusions: The HRQoL in chronic hepatitis B patients is greatly affected by disease states. Care for HBV-related diseases should consider not only the outcomes of treatment strategies but also improvement in patient wellbeing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.8
• /
• pp.1220-1226
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities of yanggaeng prepared with different amounts of aronia juice. Aronia juice was incorporated into yanggaeng at different levels (containing 50, 100, and 150 g of aronia juice in AJ 50, AJ 100, and AJ 150, respectively) based on the total weight of water. Total acidity and sugar contents showed a significant increase, however, pH showed a decrease with increasing levels of aronia juice. Hardness also showed an increase with increasing levels of aronia juice. Regarding texture profile analysis, hardness, springiness, and chewiness of yanggaeng were increased, however, cohesiveness was similar compared to the control and aronia juice added treatments. In chromaticity determination, L and b values showed a decrease, however, a value increased with increasing levels of aronia juice. The total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin contents were increased proportionally with increasing levels of aronia juice. Antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were significantly higher than those of control and increased proportionally according to the concentration of aronia juice. The sensory evaluation indicated that AJ 100 showed the best preference in color, taste, texture, flavor, and overall acceptance. These results suggest that aronia juice may be a useful ingredient in yanggaeng for improvement of quality and antioxidant potential.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.288-297
• /
• 2024

Objectives: This study explored the prevalence and predictors of alcohol and cannabis co-use among 9263 Filipino adolescents, using data from the 2019 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the GSHS, targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years and excluding cases with incomplete data on alcohol and cannabis use. Our analysis employed the bivariate chi-square test of independence and multivariable logistic regression using Stata version 18 to identify significant predictors of co-use, with a p-value threshold set at 0.05. Results: The weighted prevalence of co-users was 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4 to 5.3). Significant predictors included male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.50; 95% CI, 3.31 to 6.10; p<0.001) and being in a lower academic year, specifically grade 7 (aOR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.39 to 6.99; p<0.001) and grade 8 (aOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.30 to 3.72; p=0.003). Poor sleep quality was also a significant predictor (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.44; p<0.001), as was a history of attempted suicide (aOR, 5.31; 95% CI, 4.00 to 7.06; p<0.001). Physical inactivity was associated with lower odds of co-use (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.62; p<0.001). Additionally, non-attendance of physical education classes (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.05; p=0.021), infrequent unapproved parental checks (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.80; p=0.024), and lower parental awareness of free-time activities (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.87; p=0.005) were associated with higher odds of co-use. Factors not significantly linked to co-use included age group, being in grade 9, always feeling lonely, having no close friends, being bullied outside school, and whether a parent or guardian understood the adolescent's worries. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive interventions in the Philippines, addressing not only physical inactivity and parental monitoring but also focusing on sex, academic grade, participation in physical education classes, sleep quality, and suicide attempt history, to effectively reduce alcohol and cannabis co-use among adolescents.