Tingyuan Zheng , Bing Liu

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.1

Abstract

PURPOSE NAFLD lacks targeted therapies. Berberine (BBR) shows clinical potential but its mechanisms remain unclear. This study evaluates BBR's efficacy and mechanisms. METHODS Meta-analysis of RCTs, network pharmacology (TCMSP, GeneCards), PPI networks (Cytoscape), GO and KEGG enrichment. RESULTS BBR improves systemic metabolic parameters in NAFLD patients. 37 overlapping targets were identified, with MAPK14, PTGS2, and ICAM1 as key hub genes. KEGG enrichment indicates regulation of PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAGE, and TNF signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that BBR is an effective therapeutic agent for NAFLD. IMPLICATIONS BBR slows NAFLD progression by improving clinical metabolic indicators and modulating inflammatory cascades, providing a theoretical basis for multi-target intervention.

Key Words

berberine, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, meta-analysis, network pharmacology, MAPK14, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

Taehyung Lee , Jaemyun Ko

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.2

Abstract

PURPOSE To evaluate the validity of heart rate (HR) measurements obtained from wearable devices during resistance exercise and to compare time-dependent and exercise-specific error patterns with an electrocardiography (ECG) reference. METHODS Fifty-four healthy men performed standardized resistance exercises while HR was measured simultaneously using ECG and four commercial wearable devices (Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin). Validity was assessed using correlation, mean bias, mean absolute error, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Bland-Altman analyses. HR error (ΔHR; wearable HR - ECG HR) was also examined before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1 minute after exercise. RESULTS All devices were strongly correlated with ECG during exercise (r = 0.954-0.967), but several devices underestimated HR. Errors were greatest immediately after exercise and decreased during early recovery. The largest underestimation occurred after squat, particularly for Samsung (-37.99 bpm) and Fitbit (-33.85 bpm), whereas Apple showed the best overall agreement. CONCLUSIONS Wearable-derived HR can reflect broad cardiovascular trends during resistance exercise, but measurement accuracy decreases during rapid post-exercise HR transitions and varies across devices and exercises. IMPLICATIONS Practitioners should avoid relying on a single wearable-derived HR value immediately after a resistance exercise set, when measurement error may be greatest. Early recovery HR may provide more stable information for monitoring cardiovascular responses, although wearable measurements should not be considered interchangeable with ECG.

Key Words

wearable devices, heart rate monitoring, resistance exercise, measurement validity, electrocardiography, exercise induced changes, error patterns

Kyungsik Kim

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.3

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge structure of the international sociology of sport by examining the journals International Review for the Sociology of Sport (IRSS) and Sociology of Sport Journal (SSJ). Specifically, this study compares IRSS and SSJ to investigate (1) how research topics in sociology of sport have changed over time, (2) which core concepts form the knowledge structure of sociology of sport, and (3) how keyword clusters forming this knowledge structure are organized. METHODS To this end, bibliographic information was collected from both journals, from their inaugural issues through 2025. Centrality analysis and cohesive group analysis based on keyword networks were used as the analytical methods. RESULTS Research topics in international sociology of sport changed over time, with both commonalities and differences in the symbolic concepts accumulated across the journals over several decades. Furthermore, journal-specific topics were identified. CONCLUSIONS This study has academic significance in that it analyzed changes in core keywords by period, which had not previously been identified in sociology of sport, and identified the knowledge structure of international sociology of sport using data spanning the journals’ inaugural issues to the present. IMPLICATIONS The results of this study will aid understanding of the development of international sociology of sport and provide important insights for forecasting future trends.

Key Words

International Sociology of Sport, knowledge structure, research keywords, keyword network

Yongjae Kim , Seungbum Lee

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.4

Abstract

PURPOSE Customer retention has long been a practically important issue, yet season ticket retention remains underexplored in the sport marketing literature, particularly within minor league professional sport. This study examined season ticket holders’ renewal intentions by investigating a comprehensive set of antecedents identified in prior research. Five propositions were developed and tested to better understand season ticket retention behavior: (a) venue satisfaction, (b) attendance motivations, (c) promotional activities, (d) ticket pricing perceptions, and (e) demographic influences. METHODS Survey data were collected from 471 consumers of a minor league professional hockey organization, located in Pennsylvania, USA. RESULTS Season ticket holders who did not intend to renew reported significantly lower satisfaction with ticket prices, game entertainment, concessions, music, and merchandise quality. Among venue satisfaction attributes, entertainment value and customer service were rated as most important, while entertainment emerged as the strongest attendance motivation. Giveaways and price discounts were the two most preferred promotional activities. Season ticket packages also exhibited lower satisfaction relative to their perceived importance, suggesting a meaningful performance gap. Demographic analyses further showed that full-season ticket holders were significantly older and more likely to be married than consumers in non-season-ticket-holder segments. CONCLUSIONS Season ticket renewal in minor league professional sport appears to be driven by the combined influence of perceived value, service and entertainment satisfaction, promotional preferences, and consumer characteristics, highlighting the importance of integrated retention strategies tailored to season ticket holders’ needs. IMPLICATIONS The findings advance the theoretical understanding of season ticket renewal behavior and offer actionable guidance for the development of retention-focused marketing strategies within the context of minor league sport.

Key Words

relationship marketing, customer retention, season ticket holders, attendance motivation, minor league sport

Byungkun Lee

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.5

Abstract

PURPOSE This study investigated differences in hypertension risk and medical expenses by physical activity (PA) grades, while comparing healthcare utilization and psychological indicators (depression and suicidal ideation) according to hypertension diagnosis. METHODS Data from 14,488 adults in the 2018 Korea Health Panel survey were analyzed. PA levels were categorized using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Statistical methods included t-tests, ANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc tests, and adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS After adjusting for covariates, the inactive group had a 1.32 times higher hypertension risk than the active group. An inverse correlation was found between PA levels and medical costs; the inactive group incurred significantly higher expenditures. Hypertensive patients spent twice as much on healthcare despite showing significantly lower moderate-to-vigorous PA. Depression was higher in the hypertensive group (6.9% vs. 4.9%, p < .01), whereas suicidal ideation showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS PA is vital for hypertension prevention, cost reduction, and mental health. The findings suggest that health policies should shift focus toward "activity intensity diversification" for hypertensive patients to optimize management outcomes. IMPLICATIONS The findings suggest health policies should emphasize 'activity intensity diversification' to promote moderate-to-vigorous exercise, while integrating psychological care to reduce economic and emotional burdens in hypertensive patients.

Key Words

hypertension, physical activity, medical expenses, depression, korea health panel

Buseok Kim , Dooyong Park

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.2.6

Abstract

PURPOSE We examined whether baseline lower-extremity function and grip strength were associated with subsequent regular exercise initiation among inactive, community-dwelling older adults. METHODS We used data from the Ansung-Ansan community-based cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The analysis included 1,162 adults aged ≥65 years who reported no regular exercise at baseline and were followed over three subsequent waves (waves 2-4). SPPB scores were classified as low or high. Absolute grip strength (AGS) and relative grip strength (RGS; grip strength [kg]/body mass index [kg/m²]) were each classified using sex-specific medians. The outcome was the first follow-up report of regular exercise. Extended Cox proportional-hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with adjustment for age, sex, alcohol consumption, current smoking, lean body mass, HOMA-IR, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. We also examined combined SPPB-grip-strength categories. RESULTS During 5,574.46 person-years of follow-up, 202 participants reported initiating regular exercise. High SPPB was associated with exercise initiation (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.10-4.69). Neither AGS (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.92-1.73) nor RGS (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.69-1.28) was independently associated with the outcome after multivariable adjustment. In joint analyses, the SPPB High/AGS High group had a higher hazard of exercise initiation than the SPPB Low/AGS Low group (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.03-6.38). The SPPB High/RGS Low (HR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.21-9.16) and SPPB High/RGS High (HR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.10-8.38) groups also had higher hazards than the SPPB Low/RGS Low group. These subgroup estimates were imprecise, and no formal interaction test was performed. CONCLUSIONS Better baseline lower-extremity function, measured by the SPPB, was associated with later regular exercise initiation. Grip strength alone was not. The SPPB may help identify functional support needs when designing low-barrier exercise strategies for older adults. IMPLICATIONS Lower-extremity function, rather than grip strength, may help identify inactive older adults who are less likely to initiate regular exercise. Incorporating SPPB-based functional assessment into exercise promotion programs for older adults may help target additional support to individuals with poorer lower-extremity function.

Key Words

physical function, grip strength, short physical performance battery, exercise initiation, older adults, prospective cohort study