• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.849-858
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• 2016

It is important to control confounding bias when estimating the causal effect of treatment in an observational study. We illustrated that the covariate selection in the causal inference is different from the variable selection in the ANCOVA model. We then investigated the three criteria of covariate selection for controlling confounding bias, which can be used when we have inadequate information to draw a complete causal graph. VanderWeele and Shpitser (2011) proposed one of them and claimed it was better than the other two. We show by example that their criterion also has limitations and some disadvantages. There is no clear winner; however, their criterion is better (if some correction is made on its condition) than the other two because it can remove the confounding bias.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.515-521
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• 2014

The oriental traditional medicine, Aruncus dioicus var kamtschaticus (ADK) is used for hemostasis (blood stopping) and the promotion of blood circulation. Recently, the demands of the aerial part of ADK as edible mountain herbs are rapidly increased due to its unique fragrance and bioactivity. In this study, to evaluate the anti-thrombosis activity of ADK, ethanol extract and organic solvent fractions were prepared from aerial parts of ADK, and their anticoagulation and anti-platelet aggregation activities were determined. In an anticoagulation activity assay, the ethanol extract of ADK increased the thrombin time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 1.4-2.3 times at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Among the fractions, the ethylacetate fraction showed strong inhibitory effects against blood clotting factors, as shown in an extension of the aPTT. In contrast, the butanol fraction strongly promoted blood clotting. In an anti-platelet aggregation assay, the activity of the ethanol extract was comparable to that of aspirin, a commercial anti-platelet aggregation agent, and the butanol fraction showed 2-fold higher aggregation inhibitory activity than aspirin. The aforementioned ethanol extract and active fractions have ignorable hemolytic activity against human red blood cells up to a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Considering the high content of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and total sugar of the ethylacetate and butanol fractions, the purified active substances have potential as safe and novel anti-thrombosis agents. This report provides the first evidence of anti-thrombosis activity of ADK.