An Economic Evaluation of Thread Embedding Acupuncture for the Treatment of Lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc in a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Kim, Ha-Na,Kim, Jun-Yeon,Park, Kyeong-Ju,Hwang, Ji-Min,Jang, Jun-Yeong,Jo, Min-Gi,Ko, Min-Jung,Chae, Sang-Yeup,Kim, Jung-Hyun,Goo, Bonhyuk,Park, Yeon-Cheol,Seo, Byung-Kwan,Baek, Yong-Hyeon,Nam, Sang-S Korean AcupunctureMoxibustion Medicine Society 2021 대한침구의학회지 Vol.38 No.4

Background: Lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) is a frequently presented condition/disease in Korean medical institutions. In this study, the economics of thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial comparing TEA with sham TEA (STEA). Methods: This economic evaluation was analyzed from a limited social perspective, and the per-protocol set was from a basic analysis perspective. The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on the change in visual analog scale score, and the cost-utility analysis was based on the quality-adjusted life years. The final results were expressed as the average cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and furthermore sensitivity analysis was performed to confirm the robustness of the results observed. Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the decrease in 100 mm visual analog scale score was 8.5 mm greater in the TEA group compared with the STEA group (p > 0.05). The cost-utility analysis showed that TEA was 9,908 won lower than STEA, while the quality-adjusted life years of TEA was 0.0026 years higher than STEA (p > 0.05). These results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, but were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In treating LHIVD, TEA appeared to have cost-effectiveness and cost-utility compared with STEA. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of cost, effectiveness, and utility indicators. Therefore, results must be interpreted prudently; this study was the 1^st to conduct an economic evaluation of TEA for LHIVD.

Kinetics of Removing Nitrogenous and Phosphorus Compounds from Swine Waste by Growth of Microalga,Spirulina platensis

Kim, Min Hoe,Chung, Woo Taek,Lee, Mi Kyung,Lee, Jun Yeup,Ohh, Sang Jip,Lee, Jin Ha,Park, Dong Hee,Kim, Dong Jin,Lee, Hyeon Yong 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2000 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.10 No.4

Spirulina platensis was grown in swine waste to reduce inorganic compounds and simultaneously produce feed resources. Spirulina platensis prefers nitrogenous compounds in the order: NH^+_4-N>NO_3-N>simple-N such as urea and simple amino acids. It even consumes NH^+_4-N first when urea or nitrate are present. Therefore, the content of residual NH^+_4-N in Spirulina platensis cultures can be determined by the relative extent of the following processes: (ⅰ) algal uptake and assimilation; (ⅱ) ammonia stripping; and (ⅲ) decomposition of urea to NH^+_4-N by urease-positive bacteria. The removal rates of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were estimated as an indicator of the treatment efficiency. It was found that Spirulina platensis was able to reduce 70-93% of PO^3-_4-P, 67-93% of inorganic nitrogen, 80-90% of COD, and 37-56% of organic nitrogen in various concentrations of swine waste over 12 days of batch cultivation. The removal of inorganic compounds from swine waste was mainly used for cell growth, however, the organic nitrogen removal was not related to cell growth. A maximum cell density of 1.52dry-g/l was maintained with a dilution rate of 0.21/day in continuous cultivation by adding 30% swine waste. The nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates were correlated to the dilution rates. Based on the amino acid profile, the quality of the proteins in the Spirulina platensis grown in the waste was the same as that in a clean culture.

Effect of Zirconia on the Physical Properties of Cordierite Honeycomb Filter

Kim, Sung Jin,Bang, Hee Gon,Moon, Jung Wook,Park, Sang Yeup Trans Tech Publications, Ltd. 2007 Materials science forum Vol.544 No.-

<P>The enhancement of physical properties of porous honeycomb filter for air purification was investigated using cordierite with the addition of pore former and zirconia additive. Because cordierite honeycomb has porous body, binder formulation was varied using graphite for a pore forming agent as well as lubricating agent during the extrusion process. Also, the effect of zirconia additives on the resultant physical properties of honeycomb filter such as porosity, thermal expansion coefficient and mechanical strength was investigated.</P>

Factors Affecting Adherence to National Colorectal Cancer Screening: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study Using Multi-Institutional Pooled Data in Korea

Kim Dae Sung,Hong Jeeyoung,Ryu Kihyun,Lee Sang Hyuk,Cho Hwanhyi,Yu Jehyeong,Lee Jieun,Kim Jong-Yeup 대한의학회 2024 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.39 No.4

Background: Consistent uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is important to reduce the incidence and mortality from advanced-stage CRC and increase the survival rate of the patients. We conducted a longitudinal study to determine the factors affecting CRC screening compliance in Korean adults using individual-level linked data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Korean National Health Insurance Service, and Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: We selected 3,464 adults aged 50–79 years as the study population and followed them for 12 years (January 2007–December 2018). The outcome variable was the level of adherence to CRC screening, categorized as nonadherent, intermittently adherent, and consistently adherent. An ordinal logistic regression model was designed to determine the socioeconomic factors, family history of CRC, and medical conditions that could facilitate the consistent uptake of CRC screening. Results: The results showed a significant and positive association between consistent uptake of CRC screening and the 100–150% income category (odds ratio [OR], 1.710; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.401–2.088); clerical, sales and service job category (OR, 1.962; 95% CI, 1.582–2.433); residency at medium-sized cities (OR, 1.295; 95% CI, 1.094–1.532); high-school graduation (OR, 1.440; 95% CI, 1.210–1.713); married status (OR, 2.281; 95% CI, 1.946–2.674); use of employment-based national health insurance (OR, 1.820; 95% CI, 1.261–2.626); use of private insurance (OR, 2.259; 95% CI, 1.970–2.589); no disability (OR, 1.428; 95% CI, 1.175–1.737); family history of CRC (OR, 2.027; 95% CI, 1.514–2.714); and history of colorectal neoplasm (OR, 1.216; 95% CI; 1.039–1.422). Conclusion: The lack of regular participation in CRC screening programs in the Republic of Korea was found to be an issue that requires attention. Policies on CRC screening must place increased emphasis on strengthening educational and public relations initiatives.

Specific tail swelling pattern in hypo-osmotic solution as a predictor of DNA fragmentation status in human spermatozoa

Kim, Sung Woo,Nho, Eun Jee,Lee, Joong Yeup,Jee, Byung Chul The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2019 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.46 No.4

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate DNA fragmentation status in human spermatozoa according to specific tail swelling patterns determined via hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Methods: Frozen semen samples from 21 healthy donors were thawed and prepared by the swim-up technique for use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The semen samples were treated for 5 minutes as part of the HOST procedure and then underwent the sperm chromatin dispersion test using a Halosperm kit. DNA fragmentation status (large halo, medium halo, small halo, no halo, or degraded) and the specific tail swelling pattern ("a"-"g") were assessed at the level of a single spermatozoon. A total of 42,000 spermatozoa were analyzed, and the percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation (as evidenced by a large or medium halo) was assessed according to the specific tail swelling patterns observed. Results: The HOST examinations showed that > 93% of spermatozoa across all types displayed no DNA fragmentation. The percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation was 100% in type "d", 98.67% in type "g", and 98.17% in type "f" spermatozoa. Conclusion: We found that the type "d" spermatozoa displayed no DNA fragmentation, but the other types of spermatozoa also displayed very low rates of DNA fragmentation. This result may be associated with the processing of the spermatozoa by density gradient centrifugation and the swim-up technique.

Efficient supercapattery behavior of mesoporous hydrous and anhydrous cobalt molybdate nanostructures

Kim, Byung Chul,Manikandan, Ramu,Yu, Kook Hyun,Park, Myung-Soo,Kim, Dong-Won,Park, Sang Yeup,Justin Raj, C. Elsevier 2019 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.789 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Hydrous forms of cobalt molybdate binary metal oxide nanoaggregates were synthesized via a simple chemical co-precipitation technique. The subsequent heat treatment at 400 <SUP>°</SUP>C converted the sample into anhydrous cobalt molybdate (CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB>) with mesoporous nanostructure. The anhydrous cobalt molybdate possess surface area and pore volume of 63.92 m<SUP>2</SUP>g<SUP>-1</SUP> and 0.1802 cm<SUP>3</SUP>g<SUP>-1</SUP> which is much higher than the hydrous cobalt molybdate (1.215 m<SUP>2</SUP>g<SUP>-1</SUP> and 0.0072 cm<SUP>3</SUP> g<SUP>−1</SUP>). The electrodes designed using these materials exhibited a battery-like behavior with maximum specific capacity of 97 Cg<SUP>-1</SUP> and 177 Cg<SUP>-1</SUP> for hydrous and anhydrous cobalt molybdate samples respectively. In addition, a supercapattery was fabricated utilizing anhydrous cobalt molybdate//activated carbon electrodes, which showed maximum specific capacity value of 64 Cg<SUP>-1</SUP> at 1 Ag<SUP>-1</SUP> discharge specific current and showed better specific energy ∼18.89 Whkg<SUP>−1</SUP> for a specific power of 1.06 kWkg<SUP>−1</SUP>. Moreover, the supercapattery exhibited good capacity retention ∼93% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Hydrous and anhydrous cobalt molybdate mesoporous nanostructures were synthesized. </LI> <LI> The electrodes exhibited non-capacitive faradaic charge storage mechanism. </LI> <LI> The anhydrous CoMoO<SUB>4</SUB> electrode shows improved structural, morphological and electrochemical properties. </LI> <LI> The supercapattery designed using the electrode displayed excellent performances. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Effects of Dietary Copper Exposure on Accumulation and Histopathological Change in Liver of Juvenile Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Kim Jae-Won,Kim Seong-Gil,Kim Sang-Gyu,Song Seoung-Yeup,Kang Ju-Chan The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Scienc 2003 Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Vol.6 No.2

Experiments were carried out to investigate the accumulation and the histopathological changes in liver of juvenile rockfish, S. schlegeli, after sub-chronic dietary Cu (0, 50, 125, 250 and 500mg/kg) exposure for 60 days. Cu accumulation in liver was significantly increased with dietary exposure period and concentration for 60 days, and has a linear relation with dietary exposure days. After 60 days of Cu dietary exposure, the Cu concentration in the liver was $75.9\pm12.05,\;126.29\pm22.11\;and\;360.44\pm45.26\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight and was approximately 11-fold, 18-fold and 51-fold higher than in the control diet group at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg Cu diet group. The accumulation factors were increased with the dietary exposure period in liver of rockfish. In the primary exposed stage, the effect of hepatic tissue in the rockfish exposed to dietary Cu observed enlargement of hepatocytes nuclei, activity of hepatic cells and the swelling of hepatic cells. While exposed time and concentration were increased, the distinct granulation, irregular shape and necrosis of hepatic cells were observed. It was observed that granule degeneration and necrosis showed a part of cells in hepatic tissue after 60 days at 500 mg/kg.

Role of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Kim, Jong-Yeup,Kim, Dong-Kyu,Yu, Myeong Sang,Cha, Min-Ji,Yu, Seong-Lan,Kang, Jaeku D.A. Spandidos 2018 MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS Vol.17 No.1

<P>Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a highly prevalent disease characterized by mucosal inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses. CRS can be divided into two main categories, CRS with nasal polyps (NPs; CRSwNP) and CRS without NPs (CRSsNP). Although the pathophysiology of CRS remains unclear, DNA methylation has been implicated in the etiology of CRSwNP. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether DNA methylation of specific genes is involved in the development of NPs. In total, 18 individuals were included in the present study, and were divided into three groups: CRSwNP (n=7), CRSsNP (n=7) and healthy controls (n=4). NP tissues were obtained from the seven patients with CRSwNP and biopsies of the inferior turbinate mucosa from all three groups were used as controls. Methylated genes detected by methyl-CpG-binding domain sequencing were validated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bisulfite sequencing, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Methyl-CpG-binding domain sequencing identified 43,674 CpG islands in 518 genes. The promotor regions of 10 and 30 genes were hypermethylated and hypomethylated, respectively, in NP samples compared with controls. The top four genes with altered hypomethylation in NP tissues were, Keratin 19 (<I>KRT19</I>), nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2 (<I>NR2F2</I>), A Disintegrin-like And Metallopeptidase (Reprolysin Type) with Thrombospondin type 1 motif 1 (<I>ADAMTS1</I>) and zinc finger protein 222 (<I>ZNF222</I>). RT-qPCR demonstrated that the expression levels of <I>KRT19</I>, <I>NR2F2</I> and <I>ADAMTS1</I> were significantly increased in NP tissues; however, there was no difference in the levels of <I>ZNF222</I> between NP and control tissues. Further studies are required to confirm the relevance of these epigenetic modifications in the mechanisms underlying NP formation.</P>

Fabrication of Cordierite Honeycomb from Fly Ash

Kim Sung-Jin,Park Sung-Jin,Bang Hee-Gon,Park Sang-Yeup 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

In this study, we attempt to synthesize the cordierite from the reaction of fly-ash, alumina, silicon dioxide, and magnesia powders. For the purpose of air purification, the honeycomb filter with porous cordierite was fabricated from the combination of synthetic cordierite and pore forming agent. Fabricated porous cordierite honeycomb was prepared with high porosity (58%), and good compressive strength (69MPa).

Factors that Contribute to Disagreement in Satisfaction between Surgeons and Patients after Corrective Septorhinoplasty

Kim, Jong-Yeup,Cha, Min-Ji,Kwon, Soon-Sung,Kim, Dong-Kyu SAGE Publications 2017 American journal of rhinology & allergy Vol.31 No.6

<P>Conclusion: Our findings indicated that highly educated patients who underwent corrective septorhinoplasty required more detailed preoperative guidance, including more complete information on the limitations of the surgery.</P>