• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.53
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• pp.343.1-343.8
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• 2018

Background: Linkage of public healthcare data is useful in stroke research because patients may visit different sectors of the health system before, during, and after stroke. Therefore, we aimed to establish high-quality big data on stroke in Korea by linking acute stroke registry and national health claim databases. Methods: Acute stroke patients (n = 65,311) with claim data suitable for linkage were included in the Clinical Research Center for Stroke (CRCS) registry during 2006-2014. We linked the CRCS registry with national health claim databases in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Linkage was performed using 6 common variables: birth date, gender, provider identification, receiving year and number, and statement serial number in the benefit claim statement. For matched records, linkage accuracy was evaluated using differences between hospital visiting date in the CRCS registry and the commencement date for health insurance care in HIRA. Results: Of 65,311 CRCS cases, 64,634 were matched to HIRA cases (match rate, 99.0%). The proportion of true matches was 94.4% (n = 61,017) in the matched data. Among true matches (mean age 66.4 years; men 58.4%), the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 3 (interquartile range 1-7). When comparing baseline characteristics between true matches and false matches, no substantial difference was observed for any variable. Conclusion: We could establish big data on stroke by linking CRCS registry and HIRA records, using claims data without personal identifiers. We plan to conduct national stroke research and improve stroke care using the linked big database.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2013

Objectives: This work aimed to investigate differentiations of Korean medicine's pathological symptoms and SF-12 sub scales among normal, overweight and obese subjects from multi-center case report. Methods: From 2009 to 2011 survey were carried out to 1,589 subjects who took treatment or were hospitalized in 7 Korean medicine hospitals and 3 Korean medicine clinic. Survey include Korean medicine's pathological symptoms and SF-12. Whole survey were obtained from subjects with interviewers. Obesity degree was divided into three groups by body mass index: Normal group is from 18.5 below 23, overweight from 23 below 25 and obese group is over 25. Chi-square test was performed to reveal differentiation response rate of pathologic symptoms among obesity groups. ANOVA test was carried out for compare each group's SF-12 sub scales. Results: Patients of overweight or obesity have more symptoms such as skin itching, swelling, weakness in lower legs, and feverish with swollen joints. Contrary, normal weight group responded symptoms of dry skin more than those of obese group. As a fatigue, obese group have more fatigue feeling at afternoon and evening, compared to high frequency response of normal weight groups' morning fatigue. Obese groups shows low physical scores of health related quality of life, in contrast, high mental scores of that. Conclusions: This is first work of pathologic symptoms shown by obese groups. This would contribute to standardization of Korean medicine's pattern identification as suggestion of classification point for obese groups.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.94-103
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• 2016

Landfarming that supplies aerobic biodegradation condition to indigenous microbes in soils is a biological remediation technology. In this research, volatilization and biodegradation rate by indigenous microbes in the soil contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were measured. Soils were contaminated with diesel artificially and divided into two parts. One was sterilized by autoclave to remove indigenous microorganism and the other was used as it was. Various moisture contents and number of tillings were applied to the soil to find out proper condition to minimize volatilization and enhance bioremediation. Volatilization of TPH was inhibited and biodegradation was enhanced by increase on moisture content. Tilling was usually used to supply air for microbes, but tillings did not affect the growth of microbes in our study. Enough moisture content and proper aeration are important to control volatilization in landfarming. Also, TPH degradation was a function of the microbe counts (x₁), numbers of tilling (x₂), and moisture content (x₃) from the application of the response surface methodology. Statistical results showed the order of significance of the independent variables to be microbe counts > numbers of tilling > moisture content.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.45.1-45.13
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• 2021

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an infectious disease caused by the peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) that mainly produces respiratory symptoms in affected animals, resulting in great losses in the world's agriculture industry every year. Single-domain variable heavy chain (VHH) antibody fragments, also referred to as nanobodies, have high expression yields and other advantages including ease of purification and high solubility. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to obtain a single-domain antibody with good reactivity and high specificity against PPRV. Methods: A VHH cDNA library was established by immunizing camels with PPRV vaccine, and the capacity and diversity of the library were examined. Four PPRV VHHs were selected, and the biological activity and antigen-binding capacity of the four VHHs were identified by western blot, indirect immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses. ELISA was used to identify whether the four VHHs were specific for PPRV, and VHH neutralization tests were carried out. ELISA and western blot analyses were used to identify which PPRV protein was targeted by VHH2. Results: The PPRV cDNA library was constructed successfully. The library capacity was greater than 2.0 × 10⁶ cfu/mL, and the inserted fragment size was approximately 400 bp to 2000 bp. The average length of the cDNA library fragment was about 1000 bp, and the recombination rate was approximately 100%. Four single-domain antibody sequences were selected, and proteins expressed in the supernatant were obtained. The four VHHs were shown to have biological activity, close affinity to PPRV, and no cross-reaction with common sheep diseases. All four VHHs had neutralization activity, and VHH2 was specific to the PPRV M protein. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary research of PPRV VHHs showed that four screened VHH antibodies could be useful in future applications. This study provided new materials for inclusion in PPRV research.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2021

Purpose: The present study aimed to develop guidelines regarding initial choice of antibiotics for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) by investigating bacterial isolates. Materials and Methods: This study included 223 DFU patients that visited a single tertiary hospital and underwent bacterial culture between January 2016 and February 2020. The study was conducted in two parts: 1) to compare bacterial isolates and wound healing according to comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), and 2) to compare bacterial isolates according to wound depth using the Wagner classification. Results: Of the 223 patients, 43 had CKD (group A), 56 had PAD (group B), 30 had CKD and PAD (group C), and 94 had none of these comorbidities (group D). The isolation rate for multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MRGNB) and gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria ratio were highest in group C (p=0.018, p=0.038), and the proportion that achieved wound healing was lowest in group C (p<0.001). In the second part of the study, subjects were classified into 5 grades by wound depth using the Wagner classification; 13 grade I, 62 grade II, 60 grade III, 70 grade IV, and 17 grade V. No significant difference was observed between these grades in terms of isolation rates or gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria ratios. Conclusion: This study suggests antibiotics that cover gram-negative bacteria including MRGNB produces better results in the presence of CKD and PAD and that initial antibiotic choice should be based on the presence of CKD and PAD rather than wound depth.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.21-26
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• 2019

This paper proposes a fatigue recognition method using the C4.5 algorithm. Based on domestic and international studies on fatigue evaluation, we have completed the fatigue self - assessment scale in combination with lifestyle and cultural characteristics of Chinese people. The scales used in the text were applied to 58 sub items and were used to assess the type and extent of fatigue. These items fall into four categories that measure physical fatigue, mental fatigue, personal habits, and fatigue outcomes. The purpose of this study is to analyze the leading causes of fatigue formation and to recognize the degree of fatigue, thereby increasing the personal interest in fatigue and reducing the risk of cerebrovascular disease due to excessive fatigue. The recognition rate of the fatigue recognition system using the C4.5 algorithm was 85% on average, confirming the usefulness of this proposal.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2019

Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix is cultivated in Korea and China and is traditionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we developed and validated a quantitative analysis method for S. miltiorrhiza Radix using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Identification was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. For quantitative analysis, we used seven marker compounds. Separation conditions for HPLC were optimized using an ODS column with gradient conditions of 1% formic acid in distilled water and 1% formic acid in acetonitrile, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 280 nm. This method showed good linearity ($R^2=0.9998$), precision (relative standard deviation ${\leq}3.3%$), accuracy (recovery of 94.16-102.89%), limit of detection ($7.53{\mu}g/mL$), and limit of quantification ($23.71{\mu}g/mL$). This approach successfully quantified marker compounds in S. miltiorrhiza Radix. The individual marker compounds were identified by comparing the molecular masses and retention times with does standard compounds. Marker compound contents of S. miltiorrhiza Radix were investigated with different cultivation regions. Seven marker compounds were detected and quantified in all samples. Among them, salvianolic acid B showed the highest contents and it ranged from 4.13 to 7.15%. The salvianolic acid B content (7.15%) of marker compound was the highest in Bonghwa, and the tanshinone IIA content (1.90%) was the highest in Pohang. The results of marker compounds and developed method were intended to provide a favorable reference for the study of S. miltiorrhiza Radix from different regions of Korea.

• Metals and materials international
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1193-1201
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• 2018

Dilatometry is a useful technique to obtain experimental data concerning transformation. In this paper, a dilation conversional model was established to calculate carbides fraction in AISI H13 hot-work tool steel based on the measured length changes. After carbides precipitation, the alloy contents in the matrix changed. In the usual models, the content of carbon atoms after precipitation is considered as the only element that affects the lattice constant and the content of the alloy elements such as Cr, Mo, Mn, V are often ignored. In the model introduced in this paper, the alloying elements (Cr, Mo, Mn, V) changes caused by carbides precipitation are incorporated. The carbides were identified using scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The relationship between lattice constant of carbides and temperature are measured by high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that the carbides observed in all specimens cooled at different rates are V-rich MC and Cr-rich $M_{23}C_6$, and most of them are V-rich MC, only very few are Cr-rich $M_{23}C_6$. The model including the effects of substitutional alloying elements shows a good improvement on carbides fraction predictions. In addition, lower cooling rate advances the carbides precipitation for AISI H13 specimens. The results between experiments and mathematical model agree well.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.431-437
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• 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is categorized as a red alert pathogen that is increasingly associated with a high mortality rate in infected patients because of its resistance to extensive antibiotics. This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of some essential oils (tee tree, rosemary, and lavender oils) against 18 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MRAB). The carbapenemase screening Hodge test showed that all 20 strains of A. baumannii were resistant to imipenem. The identification of multidrug-resistant microbes was carried out using the VITEK system. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils was tested by a disk diffusion method against MRAB. In the disk diffusion method, tea tree showed the largest increase in inhibition size compared to lavender oil, and rosemary had no antibacterial effect. These results proved the antimicrobial effect of multidrug resistance A. baumannii. Tee tree oil would be a useful alternative natural product for the treatment and prevention of most common human pathogens and MRAB infections. This is expected to be used as an antimicrobial agent, such as hand disinfectant using natural essential oil in the future.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Overgrowth syndromes are conditions that involve generalized or localized areas of excess growth. In this study, the clinical, molecular, and genetic characteristics of Korean patients with overgrowth syndrome were analyzed. Materials and Methods: We recruited 13 patients who presented with overgrowth syndrome. All patients fulfilled inclusion criteria of overgrowth syndrome. Analysis of the clinical and molecular investigations of patients with overgrowth syndrome was performed retrospectively. Results: Among the 13 patients with overgrowth syndrome, 9 patients (69.2%) were found to have molecular and genetic causes. Among the seven patients with Sotos syndrome (SS), two had a 5q35microdeletion that was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. In two patients with SS, intragenic mutations including a novel mutation, c.5993T>A (p.M1998L), were found by Sanger sequencing. One patient had one copy deletion of NDS1 gene which was confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Among five patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, three had aberrant imprinting control regions; 2 hypermethylation of the differentially methylated region of H19, 1 hypomethylation of the differentially methylated region of Kv. In one patient displaying overlapping clinical features of SS, a de novo heterozygous deletion in the chromosomal region 7q22.1-22.3 was found by single nucleotide polymorphism-based microarray. Conclusion: Considering high detection rate of molecular and genetic abnormalities in this study, rigorous investigations of overgrowth syndrome may be an important tool for the early diagnosis and genetic counseling. A detailed molecular analysis of the rearranged regions may supply the clues for the identification of genes involved in growth regulation.