• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to suggest the clinical characteristics and risk factors of facial palsy from the perspective of Korean Medicine. Methods: Medical records of 856 patients, who visited the Korean Medicine hospital with facial palsy from 2004 to 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics of facial palsy were suggested by figuring out the distribution of age, sex, occupation, onset season, obesity, modes, signs, symptoms, past and family history. Results: By gender, there were more males (54.6%), and the most common age groups were in their 50s (27.4%) and 40s (23.6%). As for the occupation, unemployed (27.7%) and service and sales workers (14.6%) were the most common, and the onset season was the most common in winter (28.9%). The most common clinical characteristics were overwork (33.0%), mental stress (24.8%), and exposure to cold (19.3%) in modes, 'none' (64.3%), postauricular pain (33.2%) in signs, postauricular pain (26.9%), parageusia (14.8%) in symptoms. Hypertension and diabetes were the most common in both past and family history. In particular, the obesity rate of the subjects (59.8%) was much higher than that of Koreans (32.8%). Conclusions: Based on the historical Korean Medicine literature and the results of this study, it is suggested that overwork, stress, exposure to cold, and obesity are identified as risk factors for facial palsy. Furthermore, dysfunction of the stomach meridian is thought to contribute to the cause of facial palsy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2012

Obesity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes. However the presence of the obesity related deranged metabolic profiles varies widely among obese individuals. These individuals, known as 'metabolically healthy obese phenotype (MHO)', despite having excessive body fatness, display favorable metabolic profiles characterized by insulin sensitivity, no hypertension, as well as less dyslipidemia, less inflammation. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiac characterization and clinical profile of MHO and Non-MHO (nonmetabolically healthy obese) subjects in men. We measured treadmill exercise capacity (METs) and maximum blood pressure (BP) in 210 subjects through a medical checkup at J General Hospital. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the modified Adult Treatment Panel III definition criteria. Both MHO and Non-MHO subjects showed statistically significant changes in the left ventricular mass index (P<.001, P<.01, respectively), A-velocity (P<.01, P<.001, respectively), E/A ratio (P<.01, P<.001, respectively), E'-velocity (P<.001, P<.001, respectively), HOMA-IR (P<.01, P<.001, respectively) and maximum systolic BP (P<.01, respectively) compared with the MH-NO (metabolically healthy non obese) subjects. In conclusion, MHO participants were at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and partly metabolic disorder.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.21-33
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• 2019

The incidence of both obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus( DM) is increasing proportionately so that causes of deaths from these has overtaken from that of malnourishment. Hence it has been recommended to treat the 2 in parallel considering the role of diabesity on health. Important causes of T2DM are insulin resistance (IR) and /or inadequate insulin secretion. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B(PTPIB) has a negative impact in insulin signaling pathways and hence plays crucial role inT2DM,since its overexpression might induce IR. Thus PTPIB is considered a therapeutic target for both obesity and T2DM, there has been a search for novel ,promising natural inhibitors. We conducted a pubmed search for articles related to PTPIB inhibitors from natural causes be it marine sources or other natural sources. Out of 988 articles we selected 100 articles for review. Thus various bioactive molecules isolated from marine organisms that can acts as PTPIB Inhibitors and thus possess antidiabetic activity both in vitro/ in vivo studies ,besides products from fruits like Chinese raspberry or curcumin used as routine spices are described with their chemical classes, structure-activity relationships and potency as assessed by IC 50 values are discussed. More work is required to make this a reality.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2024

This study analysed the factors that predict and influence heart disease through key indicators related to changes in left atrial and left ventricular size. Measurements recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography were used, and the influence of variables was assessed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that left atrial volume index(LAVI) was significantly different by age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Left ventricular mass index(LVMI) was significantly different according to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and left ventricular relaxation dysfunction(p<0.05). Increases in LVMI and relative ventricular wall thickness(RWT) were associated with changes in LAVI(p<0.05). Age, systolic blood pressure, increased LAVI, and RWT influenced changes in LVMI, and left ventricular dysfunction was analysed as an influencing factor for both changes in LAVI and LVMI. Therefore, changes in left atrial and left ventricular size are indicators for early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease, and it is necessary to carefully observe structural changes in the heart and actively manage risk factors for the prevention and management of heart disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.365-369
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• 2021

Background: Law enforcement communications (i.e., 911 dispatch and call takers) is a challenging and stressful occupation. The purpose of this study is to identify the main stressors associated with employment in law enforcement communications, and to identify and provide context to how these stressors affect workers' health and wellbeing. Methods: This research study included focus groups with 23 call takers and 911 dispatchers employed by a large, urban law enforcement agency in 2018. Thematic analyses were conducted to identify trends. Results: Four themes of stressors emerged (i.e., the high stakes nature of some 911 calls for service, understaffing, supervisor-related stress, and recruiting practice). Two health-related themes emerged as being occupation-related: weight gain and poor sleep patterns/insufficient sleep). Specifically, participants reported negative eating habits resulting in weight gain and obesity, lack of sleep and irregular sleep schedules, and development of hypertension and/or diabetes since beginning their jobs. Conclusion: Law enforcement communications professionals experience a number of the same stressors facing law enforcement officers in patrol. These stressors, combined with the sedentary nature of the job, could result in long-term, chronic health problems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.273-273
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• 2022

The increasing number of Westernized eating patterns based on wheat flour in Korea has led to an increase in the rate of diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which has become a social problem. Wheat consumption is increasing due to changes in eating habits, but domestic wheat has low price competitiveness and has stagnated recently, so it is necessary to secure new resources to differentiate from imported wheat. Resistant starch, a newly created resource in domestic wheat, can act as a prebiotic similar to dietary fiber in the body, inducing microbial changes in the gut and having beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome. Wheat research on resistant starch was carried out based on the breeding of high amylose. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was used to perform SNP identification and expression analysis related to wheat amylose through phenotype and genotype. 561 wheat core collection gene sources were investigated for amylose content in wheat, and related genes were extracted and analyzed. In the GWAS analysis, the model formulas BLIMK, FarmCPU, GLM, MLM, and MLMM were used to derive results such as QQ plots and Manhattan plots through phenotypic data. Among these models, BLAST was conducted to find the association between the SNPs identified using FarmCPU and genes related to starch, and 15 were found. Using the identified markers, it becomes easier to develop and browse related wheat cultivars according to their amylose content.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Objective: This study investigated the effect of purified Carthamus tinctorius (C. tinctorius) extracted with a hot water and ethanol method on adipogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal stem cells (mBMSCs). Methods: The C. tinctorius was extracted using hot water and ethanol. The samples were concentrated by a rotary evaporator and were then dried using a freeze-dryer. The mBMSCs were cultured and maintained in a minimum essential medium eagle alpha (${\alpha}-MEM$) supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% antibiotic antimycotic solution. To induce adipogenic differentiation, the cells were treated with Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium-low glucose (DMEM-LG) containing 1 mg/mL insulin, 1 mM dexamethasone, and 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. To evaluate the adipogenic differentiation ability, oil-red O staining was performed after adipogenic differentiation for 21 days. The mRNA expression and protein level of adipogenic-related genes were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results: In the results of the MTT assay, no concentrations of C. tinctorius extracts showed toxicity on mBMSCs, so we fixed the treatment concentration of the extract at 100 ng/mL. In oil-red O staining, the water-C. tinctorius extract treatment significantly decreased adipogenic differentiation compared with the control and ethanol extract groups. The water-C. tinctorius extract group in particular showed reduced mRNA and protein expression of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($Ppar{\gamma}$) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/ebp{\alpha}$), which are adipogenic-related transcription factors. Conclusion: These data suggest that extract of C. tinctorius decreased the adipogenic differentiation of mBMSCs, while only water-C. tinctorius extract had an effect on different adipogenesis in mBMSCs. The C. tinctorius will be a useful therapeutic reagent for the prevention of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and osteoporosis.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.449-455
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was found the risk factors of cataract by gender in elder and older Korean adults. Methods: We investigated the data for 5,024 (men 2,163 people, women 2,861 people) people, aged 40-95 years, from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We divided into two groups (group 1: 40-64 years, group 2: 65-94 years). We divided into two groups (group 1: 40-64 years, group 2: 65-94 years). Cataract was decided in case of at least one eye with lens opacity. We presented significant odds ratio (OR) increase of cataract according to the obesity and socioeconomic information including house income and education level after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, high triglyceride, outside active, smoking and drinking habits in two groups with distinction of sex. Results: House income (or education) was strongly related to the prevalence of agerelated cataract in all groups. In models adjusting for all other related factors, cataract patients with lower income and education had a higher prevalence of cataract (group1: OR, 1.84[1.17-2.91], OR, 3.00[1.90-4.74], group 2: OR, 3.47[2.53-4.74], OR, 7.44[5.41-10.23] for men. In comparison, for women, cataract patients with lower income, lower education and obesity had a higher prevalence of cataract (group1: OR, 1.72[1.14-2.60], OR, 4.48[2.72-7.38], OR, 1.40[1.10-1.82], group 2: OR, 2.32[1.70-3.16], OR, 29.99[20.31-44.28], OR, 1.27[1.04-1.54]). Conclusions: Factors of low socioeconomic status were associated with age-related cataract in Korean. Obesity-cataract association was stronger in women.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.504-511
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• 2010

Diabetes is a disease that contains a high concentration of glucose in blood and due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action. Although the distinctive causes and factors of diabetes have not been clarified, the genetic factors are suggested as a main susceptibility until now. SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), as the most common genetic variation, has an influence on personal susceptibility for diseases. A nonsynonymous SNP, which changes the amino acid of the protein and its function, is especially important. Therefore, this study hypothesized that there are associations between specific SNPs of the targeted genes. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) genes were selected as target genes from the results of genome-wide association and other related research studies. Second, four nonsynonymous SNPs (three in TCF7L2 and one in FTO gene) were selected as target SNPs by using public database of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The recruited personnel was classified into three subgroups of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and normal groups. The individual genotypes of each group were analyzed by resequencing. None of genetic variations at four targeted SNP sites was revealed in all samples of this study. However, this study found two new SNPs that were not reported in TCF7L2 gene. One is synonymous SNP, which is heterozygous of C/T and no amino acid change of asparagine/asparagines, was located at c1641 and found in one normal person. Another is nonsynonymous SNP, which is heterozygous of G/A, was located at c1501 and found in two samples. This new discovered nonsynonymous SNP induce the amino acid change from alanine to threonine. Moreover, this new nonsynonymous SNP was found among two persons, one of whom was a diabetes patient and the other one was a person at boundary between IFG and normal, suggesting that this variant might be associated with IFG or diabetes. Even if there is a limitation of sample number for statistical power, this study has an importance due to the discovery of new SNPs. In the future study, a large sample number of diabetes cohort will be needed to investigate the frequency and association with new discovered SNP.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.10.1-10.5
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• 2016

Herniation after harvesting of deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap is a known but not a common complication. It occurs about 2.8 to 9 % according to the literatures and can proceed to a more severe complication such as bowel obstruction. There are several factors that exacerbate the risk: surgical factors, operator factor, and patient factors. Surgical factors include large anatomical defect and denervation of related muscles. Operator factor stands for unpunctual suture technique. Patient factors represent obesity, diabetes, pulmonary disease, smoking habits, and so on. Thus, herniation might occur regardless of meticulous suture. Herein, we would like to report two cases of herniation after DCIA flap harvesting and repaired by Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty with literature review.