• Journal of Life Science
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.70-77
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• 2022

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been attracting significant attention in modern society, owing to the increased incidence rate of various diseases along with population growth. EDCs are found in many commercial products, including some plastic bottles and containers, detergents, liners of metal food cans, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. EDCs have a hormonal effect on the human body, which disrupts the endocrine system, notably affecting sexual differentiation and normal reproduction, and can trigger cancer as well. Recently, the association between neurological diseases and EDCs has become a hot topic of research in the field of neuroscience. Considering that EDCs negatively affect not only neuronal proliferation and neurotransmission but also the formation of the neuronal networks, EDCs may induce neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. In light of these potentially deleterious outcomes, important efforts have been underway to minimize the exposure to EDCs through appropriate regulations and policies around the world, but chemicals that have not yet been associated with endocrine disrupting properties are still in wide use. Therefore, more epidemiological investigations and research are needed to fully understand the effects of EDCs on the nervous system.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2022

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the volume of trauma patients, the number of orthopedic trauma operations, and the severity of injuries. We also investigated the correlations between social distancing and these variables. Methods: This was a retrospective review of trauma patient cases at a single focused training center for trauma in Korea from January 2017 to April 2021. The COVID-19 group included patients treated from January 1 to April 30 in 2020 and 2021, and the control group included patients treated during the same months from 2017 to 2019. The volume of trauma patients according to the level of social distancing was evaluated among patients treated from August 2, 2020 to November 23, 2020. Results: The study included 3,032 patients who presented to the emergency department with traumatic injuries from January to April 2017 to 2021. The average number of patients was 646.7 and 546.0 in the control and COVID-19 groups, respectively. The percentage of patients injured in traffic accidents (TAs) decreased from 25.0% to 18.2% (P<0.0001). The proportions of in-car TAs and pedestrian TAs also decreased from 6.7% and 10.8% to 3.5% and 6.0%, respectively (P=0.0002 and P<0.0001). The percentage of bicycle TAs increased from 2.4% to 4.0% (P=0.0128). The proportion of patients with an Injury Severity Score above 15 and the mortality rate did not change significantly. As the level of social distancing increased, the number of trauma patients and the number of trauma injuries from TAs decreased. The number of orthopedic trauma operations also depended on the social distancing level. Conclusions: The number of trauma patients presenting to the emergency department decreased during the COVID-19 period. The volume of trauma patients and orthopedic trauma operations decreased as the social distance level increased.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.288-294
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• 2021

Purpose: Despite aggressive medical and nutritional management, patients with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) often suffer from multi-organ damage. Early deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) has emerged as an intervention to prevent disease progression. We investigated the efficacy of living donor LT (LDLT) with a potential carrier of MMA and a small volume of graft in patients with MMA as an alternative to DDLT. Methods: Of five patients (three male, two female; median age 5.7 years; range, 1.3-13.7 years), four underwent carrier LDLT, while one underwent non-carrier auxiliary LDLT. All patients received pre- and post-LT continuous renal replacement therapy and were provided with minimal restriction diet according to serum MMA level after LT. MMA levels in the serum and urine, the incidence of metabolic crisis, and clinical findings before and after LT were compared. Results: The survival rate was 100% during 2.2 years of follow up period after LT. In all five cases, MMA titer in the serum after transplantation decreased with less restrictive diet. Metabolic crisis was not observed during the follow-up period. In addition, no patient showed progression of severe renal impairment requiring hemodialysis. Progression of delayed cognitive development was not observed. Social functioning with improved neuropsychiatric development was observed. Conclusion: This study showed that LDLT achieved improved quality of life with less restrictive diet, therefore it could be a feasible alternative option to DDLT for the treatment of patients with MMA, even with an auxiliary LT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.471-476
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to study the probability of cancer occurrence due to photoneutron dose exposure of the colon and thyroid gland, which are normal organs, in 3D CRT, IMRT 5 portals, and IMRT 9 portals, which are radiotherapy methods for prostate cancer. The total prescribed dose for prostate cancer was 6600 cGy, 220 cGy per dose, and 30 divided irradiations were applied for the total number of times. After setting up the Rando phantom on the treatment table (couch) of the medical linear accelerator used in the experiment, an optically stimulated luminescence albedo neutron dosimeter was placed on the corresponding area of the large intestine and thyroid gland of the phantom for measurement. During 3D CRT of prostate cancer, the probability of secondary cancer due to photoneutron dose to the colon and thyroid gland, which are normal organs, was 1.8 per 10,000 people. And IMRT 5 portals were 8.7 per 10,000 people, which was about 5 times larger than 3D CRT. IMRT 9 portals derived the result that there is a probability that 1.2 people per 1,000 people will develop cancer. Based on this study, the risk of secondary radiation exposure due to the dose of photoneutrons generated during radiation therapy is studied, and it is thought that it will be used as useful data for radiation protection in relation to the stochastic effect of radiation in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.153-164
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Heat-sensitive Moxibustion on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Methods: We searched articles from Academic Journals(CAJ) online databases, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Searching key words were '前列腺增生', '熱敏灸' and '열민구', '전립선비대'. The search range included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Among the articles published to 2020, 10 articles were found. After review the title, abstract and original, 3 articles were selected finally to rule out treatment combined with completely different treatments. Result: The Heat-sensitive moxibustion at acupoints in the treatment of Benign prostatic hyperplasia were significantly superior to control group after treatment in the symptoms of patients, IPSS, QOL, PVR and Qmax(P<0.05). The Heat-sensitive moxibustion can significantly reduce the incidence of temporary urinary incontinence after Transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) and improve life quality and satisfaction of patients(P<0.05). The individualized desensitization saturated time and amount of Heat-sensitive moxibustion is superior effective to general amount and time of traditional moxibustion in the total effective rate, IPSS, Ru and Qmax(P<0.01) for Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conclusion: Heat sensitive moxibustion directly transfer heat to the source of a disease. So it can be considered as a good treatment for Benign prostate hypertrophy. It was also shown a better effect on BPH compared to traditional moxibustion, According to the thermo principles of tumor, if the tumor cell's death temperature of 43℃ is reached, that can cause tumor degeneration. Therefore I think Heat sensitive moxibustion can be applied to various tumor disease. The results of this study could be applied to clinical treatment of BPH. However, additional large-scale clinical researches should be conducted.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.110-117
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out kinematic and kinetic differences the lower extremity joint according to the landing type during vertical jump movement after jump landing, and to present an efficient landing method to reduce the incidence of injury in youth players. Method: Total of 24 Youth players under Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, who used either heel contact landing (HCG) or toe contact landing (TCG) participated in this study (HCG (12): CG height: 168.7 ± 9.7 cm, weight: 60.9 ± 11.6 kg, age: 14.1 ± 0.9 yrs., career: 4.3 ± 2.9 yrs., TCG height: 174.8 ± 4.9 cm, weight: 66.9 ± 9.9 kg, age 13.9 ± 0.8 yrs., career: 4.7 ± 2.0 yrs.). Participants were asked to perform jump landing consecutively followed by vertical jump. A 3-dimensional motion analysis with 19 infrared cameras and 2 force plates was performed in this study. To find out the significance between two landing styles independent t-test was performed and significance level was set at .05. Results: HCG showed a significantly higher dorsi flexion, extension and flexion angle at ankle, knee and hip joints, respectively compared with those of TCG (p<.05). Also, HCG revealed reduced RoM at ankle joint while it showed increased RoM at knee joint compared to TCG (p<.05). In addition, HGC showed greater peak force, a loading rate, and impulse than those of TCG (p<.05). Finally, greater planta flexion moment was revealed in TCG compared to HCG at ankle joint. For the knee joint HCG showed extension and flexion moment in E1 and E2, respectively, while TCG showed opposite results. Conclusion: Compared to toe contact landing, the heel contact landing is not expected to have an advantage in terms of absorbing and dispersing the impact of contact with the ground to the joint. If these movements continuously used, performance may deteriorate, including injuries, so it is believed that education on safe landing methods is needed for young athletes whose musculoskeletal growth is not fully mature.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.72-76
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• 2019

Over the last decade, human brucellosis (HB) has become a principal zoonosis in Korea. The objective of this study was observing the epidemiological trends of the extensive eradication programs for bovine brucellosis (BB) outbreaks-associated HB in Korea from 2002 to 2013. The raw data analysis in this study was obtained from the website of brucellosis outbreaks by Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA), Korea, 2002~2013. The number of cases of BB outbreaks-associated HB in Korea was increased after 2003 and peaked in 2006 before decreasing thereafter. There were a total of 89,240 infected BB in domestic cattle with a cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of 611.8 per 100,000 cattle; during the same period there were a total of 703 cases of HB with a CIR of 0.12 per 100,000 persons. Moreover, the correlation coefficient of brucellosis outbreaks between cattle and human was highly significant (r=+0.985). The attack ratio of HB was 7.88 per 1,000 BB cases. All of the control measures of HB were applied in the extensive eradication programs for brucellosis outbreaks of infection source in domestic animals and contributed significantly to the reduction in the outbreaks of HB in Korea.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2016

In order to select excellent cross parents for development new cultivar of low temperature tolerant, combining ability was conducted by 24 cross combinations obtained from crosses between 'Dahong', 'Gamhong', 'Maehyang', 'Seolhyang' as seed parents and 'Dahong', 'Gamhong', 'Maehyang', 'Sugyeong', 'Sunhong', 'Wongyo 3111' as pollen parents. The results showed that two cultivars of 'Dahong', 'Gamhong' were not suitable for seed parents. Because average fruit weight in case of 'Dahong' as a seed parent was the tendency to become the smallest in total cross combinations, survival ratio in case of 'Gamhong' as a seed parent was the lowest in total cross combinations. And fruit hardness in case of 'Sunhong' as a pollen parent was the tendency to low, incidence of malformed fruit in case of 'Sugyeong' as a pollen parent was the tendency to be increased. Therefore, two cultivars of 'Sunhong', 'Sugyeong' was also not suitable for pollen parents. But In case of 'Maehyang' and 'Seolhyang' as seed parents, germination percent and survival rate were relatively higher than other seed parents, fruit quality and yield had also excellent. Therefore, there could be selected to 'Maehyang' and 'Seolhyang' as seed parents and 'Maehyang', 'Seolhyang', 'Wongyo3111' as pollen parents. Especially, the crosses 'Maehyang' × 'Seolhyang', 'Seolhyang' × 'Maehyang', 'Seolhyang' × 'Wongyo3111' were suitable for cross combination for development new cultivar of low temperature tolerant to be demonstrated the excellence as cross parents in sugar contents, fruit weight, fruit hardness and yield.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제65권6호
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• pp.1323-1340
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• 2023

There are several factors that affect the welfare and meat quality of pigs during pre-slaughter transport. Among various factors, the effects of weather conditions and loading density were studied. A total of 3,726 finishing pigs were allotted to one of nine groups arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design according to the weather conditions (low temperature [LT], under 10℃; normal temperature [NT], 10℃-24℃; high temperature [HT], upper 24℃), and loading density (low density [LD], upper 0.43 m²/100 kg; normal density [ND], 0.37-0.43 m²/100 kg; high density [HD], under 0.37 m²/100 kg). Each treatment group follow as: LTLD, LTND, LTHD, NTLD, NTND, NTHD, HTLD, HTND, HTHD. In terms of carcass composition, pigs had the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness at LT. Comparing the HD transport to the ND transport, the meat quality indicated a lower pH and more drip loss. The incidence rate of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pork was high in the order of the HD, LD, and the ND transport (20%, 9%, and 2%, respectively). The HT transport showed the lowest pH and greatest L^* value under the given weather conditions. Pigs transported under the HTHD and LTLD conditions had the greatest rates of PSE pork (40% and 20%, respectively). Pigs exposed to HD transport had the shortest laying time and the highest overplap behavior. The LDLT transport pigs had a shorter laying time than the LDNT and LDHT transport pigs. In conclusion, too high or too low density transport is generally not excellent for meat quality or animal welfare, however it is preferable to transport at a slightly low density at high temperature and at a slightly high density at low temperature.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제53권7호
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• pp.483-496
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with decreased cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits compared to sinus rhythm (SR). Effective biventricular (BiV) pacing is a determinant of CRT success, but AF can interfere with adequate BiV pacing and affect clinical outcomes. We investigated the effect of device-detected AF on clinical outcomes and optimal BiV pacing in patients with heart failure (HF) treated with CRT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 174 patients who underwent CRT implantation between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary center. The optimal BiV pacing percentage was defined as ≥98%. Device-detected AF was defined as an atrial high-rate episode ≥180 beats per minute lasting more than 6 minutes during the follow-up period. We stratified the patients without preexisting AF at pre-implantation into device-detected AF and no-AF groups. Results: A total of 120 patients did not show preexisting AF at pre-implantation, and 54 had AF. Among these 120 patients, 19 (15.8%) showed device-detected AF during a median follow-up of 25.1 months. The proportion of optimal BiV pacing was significantly lower in the device-detected AF group than in the no-AF group (42.1% vs. 75.2%, p=0.009). The devicedetected AF group had a higher incidence of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death than the no-AF group. The device-detected AF and previous AF groups showed no significant differences regarding the percentage of BiV pacing and clinical outcomes. Conclusions: For HF patients implanted with CRT, device-detected AF was associated with lower optimal BiV pacing and worse clinical outcomes than no-AF.