• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the colon. Previous studies have reported that obesity increases the prevalence of ulcerative colitis and aggravates the progression. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate whether curcumin inhibits the progression of ulcerative colitis caused by obesity. Mice were bred on a high-fat diet to induce obesity, and curcumin was administered with the high-fat diet to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect. To induce ulcerative colitis, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was administered orally, and clinical symptoms of colitis were subsequently observed. For histological evaluation of curcumin, the colon, liver and abdominal fat tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Our results confirm that consumption of curcumin resulted in decreasing the score of the disease activity index, and inhibited shortening of the colon length. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucosal damage were inhibited in the colon tissue of ulcerative colitis exacerbated by obesity. We further confirmed that exposure to curcumin significantly reduced the steatosis area of the liver and adipocytes of abdominal fat. In conclusion, we believe that curcumin can be applied as a therapeutic agent to treat ulcerative colitis, by inhibiting the progression of colitis caused by obesity.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.119-125
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• 2022

With the recent increase in dementia patients due to aging, measures to prevent their wandering behavior and disappearance are urgently needed. To solve this problem, various authentication methods and location detection techniques have been introduced, but the security problem of personal authentication and a system that can check indoor and outdoor overall was lacking. In order to solve this problem, various authentication methods and location detection techniques have been introduced, but it was difficult to find a system that can check the security problem of personal authentication and indoor/outdoor overall. In this study, we intend to propose a system that can identify personal authentication, basic health status, and overall location indoors and outdoors by using wristband-type wearable devices in a private blockchain environment. In this system, personal authentication uses ECG, which is difficult to forge and highly personally identifiable, Bluetooth beacon that is easy to use with low power, non-contact and automatic transmission and reception indoors, and DGPS that corrects the pseudorange error of GPS satellites outdoors. It is intended to detect wandering behavior and abnormal signs by locating the patient. Through this, it is intended to contribute to the prompt response and prevention of disappearance in case of wandering behavior and abnormal symptoms of dementia patients living at home or in nursing homes.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.368-377
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• 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of radiation mutant Perilla frutescens var. crispa and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi complex extract(Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract) on the mediators related to degenerative arthritis in a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat model of degenerative arthritis. Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract was administered orally at doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before direct injection of monosodium iodoacetate (3 mg/50 µl of 0.9% saline) into the intra-articular space of the rats' right knees. The rats subsequently received the same doses of oral Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract for another 4 weeks. It was evaluated that the treatment effects based on serum bio-markers, and morphological and histopathological analysis of the knee joints. Compared with those in negative control rats, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments significantly reduced the serum levels of inflammation, bone metabolism markers (i.e., TNF-α, MMP-3, COX-2, PGE₂, COMP, and Aggrecan). Otherwise, it was significantly increased the production of CTX-2 in cartilage absorption mediators. In addition, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract treatments effectively preserved the knee cartilage and synovial membrane. As a result, it indicates that the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex extract improved degenerative arthritis symptoms. Thus, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa complex can be used in food material for the management of degenerative arthritis.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.19-36
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was (a) to identify latent profiles among employed Korean mothers of third graders based on work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, work-parenting conflict, and work-parenting enrichment, (b) to examine the antecedents of profile membership at the individual, family, work, and community levels, and (c) to investigate the differences in the various psychological outcomes across the profiles. The sample of 451 married employed mothers was a subset of data from the 10th Wave of the Panel Study of Korean Children, which was collected in 2017 when the focal child was in the third grade. Our latent profile analysis suggested a three-profile model that comprised enriched (11.91%), moderate (47.85%), and mixed (40.24%) profiles. The significant antecedents of profile membership were subjective health status, the child's adjustment to school, working hours, the community's suitability for childrearing, and satisfaction with community service facilities. Regarding psychological outcomes, the levels of life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and job satisfaction were higher in the following order: enriched, moderate, and mixed profiles. The levels of depressive symptoms were in the reverse order: mixed, moderate, and enriched profiles. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the literature on work-family interactions by considering various predictors and outcomes at multiple levels.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2022

Objectives: Oxidative stress plays a key role in chronic and acute brain disorders and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegeneration symptoms. The neuroprotective effects of berberine and Berberis vulgaris (barberry) root extract against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the human SH-SY5Y cell line were studied. Methods: The methanolic extraction of barberry root was performed using a maceration procedure. Oxidative stress was induced in SH-SY5Y cells by H₂O₂, and an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry root extract. The cells were pretreated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each compound (including berberine, barberry root extract, and H₂O₂), and the anti-apoptotic effects of all components were investigated using RT-PCR. Results: The SH-SY5Y cell viability increased in both groups exposed to 75 and 150 ppm barberry extract compared with that in the H₂O₂-treated group. The data showed that exposing SH-SY5Y cells to 30 ppm berberine significantly increased the cell viability compared with the H₂O₂-treated group; treatment with 150 and 300 ppm berberine and H₂O₂ significantly decreased the SH-SY5Y cell viability and was associated with berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at 30 ppm compared with the control group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was observed only after treatment with the IC₅₀ of berberine. The expression level of Bcl-2 in cells exposed to both berberine and barberry extracts was also significantly higher than that in cells exposed to H₂O₂. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with barberry extract and berberine could suppress apoptosis by regulating the actions of Bcl-2 family members.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.231-248
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to implement a cognitive stimulation activity program and examine its effects elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from per sistent cognitive decline on the elderly's cognitive function, self-efficacy, and depression. The purpose of this study was to help elderly people who is capable of daily life and community activities but suffering from persistent cognitive decline improve their ability to perform and adapt to activity-based tasks incorporating a variety of actions of different subdomains and difficulty levels, ac cording to their characteristics and cognitive levels. The aim of the program created was to systemati cally improve the subdomains of cognitive functions and eventually preventing these conditions develo ping into dementia in those affected. This study also enabled the subjects to improve their self-effica cy through newly gained positive perceptions and attitudes toward their own abilities by successfully expressing their experience or thoughts about circumstantially and relationally meaningful events and memories, and performing activities that promote sensory stimulations. The group activities conducted as part of the study helped the subjects reduce their symptoms of depression not only by expressing their thoughts and emotions, but also by encouraging empathy with, understanding of, and caring for others. Given that this study confirmed the potential of the cognitive stimulation program designed fo r it as a clinical intervention for elderly people with cognitive impairment, it is suggested as a useful preventive program for early stage dementia.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.446-455
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• 2022

This study investigated work experience of firefighters and risk factors for their depression during COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data of 53,557 firefighters who participated in the online mental health status survey. Data included experiences of COVID-19 infection, experience of COVID-19 response work, fear of social stigma, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results showed that 45.76% of participants had experience of COVID-19 response work. Emergency job group had the highest percentage of COVID-19 related work and the greater intensity of the work and fear of social stigma than those of other job groups. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that co-workers' infection, COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma were significantly associated to the severity of depression. The findings in this study demonstrated COVID-19 related work experience can link to the development of depression in firefighters. Effort to reduce COVID-19 related work intensity and fear of social stigma could help prevent depression among firefighters.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to empirically verify the effects of spousal bereavement and complicated grief level on death anxiety of the elderly. The sample consisted of 1,998 adults who were aged 65 or older. Dependent variable was measured with the Death Anxiety Scale-Korean version (DAS-K). Independent variable was measured with both spousal bereavement and the Inventory of Complicated Grief-Korean version (ICG-K). Multiple regression analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0, adjusting for demographics, psycho-social and health variables. The results indicated that death anxiety level was lower among the bereaved with normal grief (p<.01) than non-bereaved. In contrast, death anxiety level was higher among the bereaved with complicated grief than non-bereaved (p<.01). The study result suggests that the most risky factor for death anxiety is complicated grief rather than the bereavement. Although the bereavement can be a universal experience, the severity and duration of symptoms after the bereavement may not be general. The unhealed emotional and physical pain after the bereavement stimulates death anxiety, and senior citizens who suffer from complicated grief often fail to integrate the bereavement and loss into reality, therefore, may not accept the death phenomenon itself. Anxiety and fear of death can emerge when they cannot acknowledge the bereavement. To manage complex sorrows and mitigate death anxiety, intervention programs should be provided to increase adaptability to the bereavement.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.359-375
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• 2009

This study developed a program that integrated MBSR-K and progressive muscular relaxation for the health and well-being of patients with chronic pain, and proved its effectiveness by studying 40 chronic pain patients. This program used nature of mind, body scanning meditation, breath meditation, mindfulness meditation, Hatha yoga and progressive muscular relaxation to ease chronic pain. Whenever negative feelings and emotions such as fear, anxiety, and pain occurred, the program focused on those emotions and observed the outcome. This program, which was based on the results of the preceding studies, was composed of eight courses. Major findings of the study are as follows: First, the meditation group that was composed of patients with chronic pain had significant decrease of physical symptoms compared to the control group. Second, to confirm the outstanding features of the participating patients with chronic pain that brought change in the effect of the program, characteristics of clients were analysed. Third, the program factor that influenced the effectiveness of the treatment process was evident when the training was performed twice a week rather than having once a week of training and second week for homework.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1071-1082
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy of using Korean medicine treatment with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. Case presentation: We used Korean medicine treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) to treat a hospitalized patient with cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. To evaluate the treatment, we used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The degree of cold hypersensitivity of the hands and feet was also evaluated using evaluation paper. The generic health status was measured using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale. The 31-year-old female underwent 13 days of inpatient treatment. Her pattern identification was that both hands and feet are cold (BiYangHeo) types. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. She took Gyejigabuja-tang for 13 days. She also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at LI11 (曲池), L14 (合谷), TE5 (外關) on her hands, LR3 (太衝), SP6 (三陰交), SP9 (陰陵泉) ST36 (足三里), GB41 (足臨泣) on Feet, GV4 (命門), GV3 (腰陽關), BL23 (腎兪), BL24 (氣海兪), BL25 (大腸兪), and BL26 (關元兪) on the low back. After 2 weeks of treatment, the NRS scale of her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet symptoms dropped from NRS 7 to NRS 3, and her low back pain dropped from NRS 6 to NRS 3. Her cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet evaluation paper score decreased from 64 to 32, and her EQ-5D increased from 0.487 to 0.681. After the end of treatment, continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects were confirmed. Results: These findings suggest that Korean medical treatment (Gyejigabuja-tang, acupuncture) may be effective for treating cold hypersensitivity of hands and feet with lumbar spinal herniated intervertebral disc. The NRS, evaluation paper, and EQ-5D scores improved after treatment, with no side effects.