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Background: Shoulder subluxation occurs in 17–64% of hemiplegic patients after stroke and develops mostly during the first three weeks of hemiplegia. A range of shoulder orthoses has been used in rehabilitation to prevent subluxation. However, there is little evidence of their efficacy. AIM: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in the subluxation distance, pain, and functional level of the hemiplegic upper extremity among patients with two different shoulder orthoses. Design: This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial with intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: Multicenter, rehabilitation medicine department of two university hospitals in South Korea. Population: Forty-one patients with subacute stroke with shoulder subluxation with greater than 0.5 finger width within 4 weeks of stroke were recruited between January 2016 and October 2021. Methods: The experimental group used an elastic dynamic sling while sitting and standing to support the affected arm for eight weeks. The control group used a Bobath sling while sitting and standing. The primary outcome was to assess the distance of the shoulder subluxation on radiography. The secondary outcomes were upper-extremity function, muscle power, activities of daily living, pain and spasticity. Result: The horizontal distance showed significant improvement in the elastic dynamic sling group, but there were no significant differences in the vertical distance between the elastic dynamic and Bobath sling groups. Both groups showed improvements in upper-extremity movements and independence in daily living after 4 and 8 weeks of using shoulder orthoses, and the differences within the groups were significant (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in upper-extremity movements and independence in daily living between the two groups. Conclusions: The subluxation distance showed better results in the elastic dynamic sling, which has both proximal and distal parts, than in the Bobath sling, which holds only the proximal part. Both shoulder orthoses showed improvements in the modified Barthel index, upper-extremity function, and manual muscle testing.

When spalling occurs at a concrete pavement joint, partial depth repair (PDR) is implemented by removing the damaged part of a slab and filling the space with repair materials. However, re-repair is frequently also required because additional distress develops at the boundary of the repaired area due to improper PDR size in addition to poor quality of materials and construction methods. For the sustainability of pavement structures, it is necessary to study the PDR size based on the mechanical theory. Therefore, in this study, the PDR size for spalling was suggested based on the results of laboratory and field tests conducted using the impact echo (IE) method. The dynamic modulus estimated in the laboratory using the IE and forced resonance methods were compared for concrete specimens subjected to repetitive freeze–thaw cycles. In addition, the correlations of the dynamic modulus estimated by the methods with the compressive strength and absorption coefficient were analyzed. As a result, the IE method, for which vibration could be estimated on the same side of the specimen where impaction was applied, was selected for use on the pavement surface. Furthermore, the short-time Fourier transform technique was used instead of the fast Fourier transform, which has been commonly used for nondestructive methods, to minimize the noise in the field and, consequently, to estimate the dynamic modulus more accurately. The dynamic modulus was estimated according to the distance from the spalling end using the IE method at the Korea Expressway Corporation test road to identify the damaged range in the slab based on the severity of spalling. The dynamic modulus, compressive strength, and absorption coefficient tests were conducted in the laboratory for specimens cored from the concrete slab where the field test was performed. Finally, the PDR size was suggested according to the severity of spalling based on the damaged range in the slab, as determined by the field test and laboratory test results.

The body mass index (BMI) neither differentiates fat from lean mass nor does it consider adipose tissue distribution. In contrast, the recently introduced z-score of the log-transformed A Body Shape Index (LBSIZ) can be applied to measure obesity using waist circumference (WC), height, and weight. We aimed to investigate the association between LBSIZ and mortality. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2014 and linked the primary dataset to death certificate data from the National Death Index with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2015. A multiple Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortalities with adjustment for baseline characteristics. LBSIZ, WC, and BMI showed positive association with total fat percentage (P

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis and osteopenia are characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. Although the risk of fractures is higher in underweight people than in overweight people, the accumulation of body fat (especially abdominal fat) can increase the risk of bone loss. This study aimed to evaluate the association between body fat percentage and BMD in normal-weight middle-aged Koreans. METHODS This study included 1,992 adults (mean age, 48.7 years; 52.9% women). BMD and body fat were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear regression analyses and analysis of covariance were used to assess the association between BMD and body fat. Body fat percentage was grouped by cut-off values. The cut-off values were 20.6% and 25.7% for men with a body mass index of 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 , while the cut-off values were 33.4% and 36% for women. RESULTS Body fat percentage tended to be negatively associated with BMD. Increased body fat percentage was associated with reduced BMD in normal-weight middle-aged adults. The effects of body fat percentage on BMD in normal-weight individuals were more pronounced in men than in women. CONCLUSION There was a negative correlation between BMD and body fat percentage in middle-aged Korean men and women with normal body weight. This association was stronger in men than in women.

Background Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between selenium (Se) and diabetes mellitus (DM). However, different studies have reported conflicting results. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to clarify the impact of Se on DM. Methods We searched the PubMed database for studies on the association between Se and DM from inception to June 2018. Results Twenty articles evaluating 47,930 participants were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis found that high levels of Se were significantly associated with the presence of DM (pooled odds ratios [ORs], 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44 to 2.45). However, significant heterogeneity was found (I²=82%). Subgroup analyses were performed based on the Se measurement methods used in each study. A significant association was found between high Se levels and the presence of DM in the studies that used blood (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.60 to 2.93; I²=77%), diet (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.36; I²=0%), and urine (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.17; I²=0%) as samples to estimate Se levels, but not in studies on nails (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.52 to 2.98; I²=91%). Because of significant heterogeneity in the studies with blood, we conducted a sensitivity analysis and tested the publication bias. The results were consistent after adjustment based on the sensitivity analysis as well as the trim and fill analysis for publication bias. Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrates that high levels of Se are associated with the presence of DM. Further prospective and randomized controlled trials are warranted to elucidate the link better.

본고는 16세기 초반 조선 중종 대 인물인 김안국의 「慕齋家訓」을 통해서 宗法 질서 보급 노력과 그 성격을 파악하는 것이 목적이었다. 김안국은 종법을 사회적 교화의 수단으로 이해하고 가훈서 역시 마찬가지의 역할을 할 것이라 보았다. 김안국은 가훈서를 편찬하면서 향촌 사회 내부의 처신 문제에 집중한 만큼, 그의 가훈서는 재지사족의 생활양식을 대변하는 재지사족적인 가훈서였다. 그는 가훈서에서 理의 보편성에 입각하여 인륜과 명분의 절대성을 강조함으로 현실에 있는 지배질서를 옹호하려고 했다. 그는 인륜이 실현되는 장으로 가족을 상정하였다. 이 때 가족을 규율하는 기초로서 부자관계의 특성을 성리학적 효론에서 찾음으로 수기 · 수양의 종법적 가족윤리를 제시하였다. 김안국이 종법적 가족윤리를 내세운 것은 교화의 주체로 격상하고자 하는 재지사족의 의도를 반영하고 있는 것이었다. 김안국은 종법적 가족윤리를 내세우면서 제사를 중심으로 가족을 결속하고자 하였다. 이러한 목적에서 김안국은 『朱子家禮』의 時祭를 제시함으로 종법이 강조하는 종자 중심의 의례 주재권을 통해 가족 구성원 내부의 위계질서를 세우고자 한 것이었다. 그는 이러한 위계질서가 향, 국에도 적용될 수 있는 것으로 보았다. 이는 곧 그의 가훈서가 향촌 사회 내부에 재지사족 중심의 질서를 달성하고, 나아가 국가권력을 장악하기 위한 기초적 토대로서 가족을 상정하고 있음을 보여준다. 결국 김안국의 「모재가훈」은 16세기 초반 가족 · 종족이라는 혈연적인 유대에 입각한 상하 · 존비의 위계질서를 향촌 사회 및 국가권력에 일관되게 관철시킬 수 있다는 발상에서 비롯된 가훈서라고 할 수 있다.

ObjectiveThe early identification of predictors related to cardiovascular disease risk factor clustering (CVD-RFC) can help prevent chronic disease. We aimed to identify the risk factors for CVD-RFC in adolescents.MethodsA prospective longitudinal cohort study design was used to obtain data included in these analyses from school-aged children who participated in the Korean Child-Adolescent Study 2008–2014. A total of 1309 children aged 6–15 years were enrolled. We compared the participants based on the presence or absence of CVD-RFC and examined the cumulative incidence of CVD-RFC.ResultsOf the total 1309 children, 410 (31.32%) had CVD-RFC in adolescence. A higher average household income ≥3 million Korean Republic won (KRW)/month (3–5 million KRW/month: HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.97); ≥5 million KRW/month: HR 0.58 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.77)) was associated with a lower CVD-RFC incidence, while the presence of parental CVD history (HR 1.28 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.57)), overweight or obesity (HR 3.83 (95% CI 3.05 to 4.80)) and shorter sleep duration of 8–9 hour/day (HR 1.80 (95% CI 1.05 to 3.07)) and ConclusionsObesity in childhood, short sleep duration and parental factors such as low socioeconomic status and parental history of CVD are significant risk factors for the development of CVD-RFC in adolescents. Efforts to create awareness regarding sufficient sleep duration in children via intervention programmes targeting cardiometabolic health in children and special attention to lifestyle modifications and socioeconomic components of the family should be considered.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between hypertension and carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) intake according to gender and obesity.The study used data from 2007, 2008 and 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. A total of 9869 subjects (men = 3845 and women = 6024) were included. SSB intakes were calculated from food frequency questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for hypertension were assessed using survey logistic regression and multivariable adjusted models.A total of 14.5 % of individuals were classified as having hypertension. The likelihood of hypertension in the third, fourth and fifth quintiles for SSB intake increased to OR 1.00, 1.20 and 1.42 respectively, after adjusting for confounding factors. Compared to the participants in the lowest tertile for SSB intake, participants in the third tertile showed an increased likelihood of hypertension with ORs (CI) of 2.00 (1.21-3.31) and 1.75 (1.23-2.49) for obese women and non-obese men, respectively.The present study showed gender differences in the relationship between carbonated SSB intake and the hypertension according to obesity.

Purpose: Patients with limited health literacy usually have less disease-related knowledge, and consequently have poor health status. On the other hand, diabetes care requires complex course of strict medication and lifestyle changes to maintain appropriate glycemic levels and to prevent diabetic complications. We evaluated the association between health literacy, diabetes knowledge and glycemic control among diabetic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 84 enrollees who were older than 30 years and had type 2 diabetes was conducted in a university hospital. Health literacy was measured using the short form of Newest Vital Sign (NVS), and diabetes knowledge measured using one of the two parallel diabetes knowledge tests. Participants were interviewed to determine participants’ characteristics, and HbA1c levels were identified from the clinical database of Hallym University Kang Nam Sacred Heart Hospital to assess glycemic control. Results: The mean score of health literacy was 1.8 (±1.9) and mean score of diabetes knowledge was 12.0 (±4.1). Only 23.8% of participants had adequate literacy. After adjusting sociodemographic characteristics, duration of diabetes, and treatment regimen, diabetes knowledge and health literacy were not independently associated with HbA1c levels. Only significant factor of glycemic control was duration of diabetes (r=0.489, p

Ingestion of Citrus unshiu Markovich (CUM) has been widely used as an alternative therapy for thousands years in Korean traditional medicine. Both anti-osteoclastic actions of CUM extracts (CUME) and the possibility for development as a healthy food product were investigated. CUME significantly (p

Adipokines derived from adipocytes are important factors that act as circulating regulators of bone metabolism. C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related Protein-3 (CTRP3) is a novel adipokine with multiple effects such as lowering glucose levels, inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver, and increasing angiogenesis and anti-inflammation. However, the effects and the mechanisms of CTRP3 on bone metabolism, which is regulated by osteoblasts and osteoclasts, have not been investigated. Here, we found that CTRP3 inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by osteoclastogenic factors in bone marrow cell-osteoblast co-cultures, but did not affect the ratio of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) to osteoprotegerin (OPG) induced by osteoclastogenic factors in osteoblasts. We also found that CTRP3 inhibited osteoclast differentiation from mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) induced by RANKL in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Functionally, CTRP3 inhibited the F-actin formation and bone resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts. Pretreatment with CTRP3 significantly inhibited RANKL-induced expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc1), essential transcription factors for osteoclast development. Surprisingly, the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was considerably increased by pretreatment with CTRP3 for 1h. The CTRP3-stimulated AMPK activation was also maintained during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. CTRP3 did not affect RANKL-induced p38, ERK, JNK, Akt, IκB, CREB, and calcium signaling (Btk and PLCγ2). These results suggest that CTRP3 plays an important role as a negative regulator of RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation by acting as an inhibitor of NFATc1 activation through the AMPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, CTRP3 treatment reduced RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone destruction in mouse calvarial bone in vivo based on micro-CT and histologic analysis. In conclusion, these findings strongly suggest that CTRP3 deserves new evaluation as a potential treatment target in various bone diseases associated with excessive osteoclast differentiation and bone destruction.

Recently, a novel system with high efficiency has been developed to drain only supernatant of residuals effectively from water treatment plant, which results in high removal efficiency in water treatment by enhancing the quality of residuals and recycling water. The system could positively cope with the variation of water quality by a monitoring device. It was also operated automatically by an auto-control program. The purpose of the present investigation is to evaluate the treatment efficiency of an auto supernatant drain system (ASDS) in treating the residuals from water treatment plant by operating pilot tests as well as column tests. The ASDS improved BOD of the water flowing into the residuals basin by 40.6% and that of the water flowing into the thickener by 90.8%. The improvement effect of COD by the system were 26.7% and 83.9% for the recycled water and the effluent, respectively. The system also improved 1.62 mgL−1 and 0.17 mgL−1 in terms of the mean TN and TP, respectively. The ASDS improved 4.56% of the mean moisture content and 87.3% of the mean recovery rate.

Alcoholic liver disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are well-known risk factors for liver fibrosis or cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; it is a major global health concern, but there are few effective and safe management options. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of fermented garlic extracts (FGEs) on hepatic function in adults with mild hepatic dysfunction without underlying hepatic disease. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, seventy-five adults with elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were included in a FGE-administered group (n = 36) or a placebo group (n = 39), and received either two sachets/day containing FGEs or placebo over a 12-week period. Primary endpoint was the change in serum GGT levels. Data were analysed using a generalized linear mixed effects model. Significant group × time interactions for serum levels of GGT (F = 3.98, P = 0.022) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; F = 3.28, P = 0.043) were observed with an improvement in levels of GGT (P = 0.066) and ALT (P = 0.014) in the FGE group compared to that reported for the placebo group at the 12-week visits. There was no intergroup difference in the prevalence of adverse events. Intake of FGEs improved serum GGT and ALT levels in adults with mildly elevated serum GGT level without reported adverse side effects. FGEs might be effective and safe management options for mild hepatic dysfunction.

The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are collecting data from various sensors nodes deployed in remote locations and then transmitted to a central controller which then manages and controls this data. Wireless communications for SCADA is required to applications where wired communications to the remote site is too expensive or it is too time consuming to construct wired communications. Utilization of wired or line communications is becoming impractical as the scope is increasing widening. This paper discusses the role of wireless communications for SCADA systems.

A field study was conducted to understand nitrogen use efficiency of high yielding Japonica rice varieties under three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (90, 150 and 210 kg N ha -1 ) in Iksan, Korea. Two high yielding rice varieties, Boramchan and Deuraechan, and an control variety, Dongjin2, were grown in fine silty paddy. Nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE) were 83.3, 56.3, and 41.2 in 90, 150, and 210 kg N ha -1 fertilizer level, respectively. Total nitrogen uptake varied significantly among nitrogen levels and varieties. Variety Dongjin2 showed the highest nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), while Boramchan and Deuraechan showed higher nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). However, Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) was higher in Boramchan (0.58) than Deuraechan (0.57) and Dongjin2 (0.53). Rough rice yield showed linear relationship with total nitrogen uptake (R² =0.72) within the range of nitrogen treatments. Boramchan produced significantly higher rough rice yield (8546 kg ha -1 ) which mainly due to higher number of panicles per m² compared to Deuraechan (7714kg ha -1 ). Deuraechan showed higher number of spikelets per panicle, but showed lower yield due to lower number of panicle per m². Rice varieties showed different nitrogen uptake ability and NUE at different nitrogen level. Plant breeders and agronomist should take advantage of the significant variations and relationships among grain yield, NUpE, and NUE.

Costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties and mediates apoptosis. However, its effects and mechanism of action in osteoclasts remain unknown. Herein, we found that costunolide significantly inhibited RANKL-induced BMM differentiation into osteoclasts in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cytotoxicity. Costunolide did not regulate the early signaling pathways of RANKL, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-κB pathways. However, costunolide suppressed nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) expression via inhibition of c-Fos transcriptional activity without affecting RANKL-induced c-Fos expression. The inhibitory effects of costunolide were rescued by overexpression of constitutively active (CA)-NFATc1. Taken together, our results suggest that costunolide inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by suppressing RANKL-mediated c-Fos transcriptional activity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study was carried out to evaluate the productivity of rice cultivation in extremely late season in Korea and to confirm the effects of pot-raising seedling culture in this case by assessing the growth and yield performance of rice cultivars that are well adapted to late culture. Suitable cultivars for extremely late culture should not have premature heading habit when transplanted around late July and also secure appropriate growth duration before heading. Geumobyeo 1 and Manjongbyeo showed small decrease in the emerged leaves in transplanting in late July or early August and heading occurred at the same time relatively without premature heading. At transplanting from late July to early August in extremely late rice cultivation, ripening was relatively good until transplanting on August 5. At transplanting on July 30, accumulated temperature from heading to the first frost was 853℃ and ripening was good enough. However, heading was delayed by low temperature at transplanting on August 10 and ripening was very poor due to low accumulated temperature of below 800℃, causing drastic decrease of rice yield. The rice yield increased in transplanting with pot seedling, especially the effects of pot seedling was higher in Geumobyeo 1, but panicle number was not enough to secure rice yield owing to short growth duration. In order to cultivate rice in extremely late season, we should select adaptive rice cultivars that have suitable growth duration and excellent ripening in low temperature. Here, pot-seedling did a great role to secure early growth and bigger growth amounts.