• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.224-237
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• 2021

Purpose: Paeonia Radix Alba is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat the liver and the spleen. Many studies have reported that Paeonia Radix Alba extract (PR) affects liver injury, but there has been no study on liver injuries induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the effect of PR on a TAA-induced acute liver injury (ALI) model. Methods: The antioxidant activity of PR was assayed by the content of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, 1,1-diphenyl-2'-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities in vitro test. ALI was induced via-intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) for three consecutive days. Also, silymarin (100 mg/kg body weight) and PR (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered at 1 hours 30 minutes prior to TAA treatment. The levels of ammonia, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were analyzed using an assay kit. The expressions of antioxidant proteins including Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2 and oxidative stress-related proteins including NOX2, p47^phox, and p22^phox were evaluated by the western blot analysis. Results: PR showed excellent antioxidant activity in vitro. TAA administration increased the levels of ammonia, GOT, and GPT in the ALI control group compared to the normal group, whereas it was significantly reduced by PR pretreatment. Moreover, NADPH oxidase protein expressions were upregulated after TAA treatment, while the elevated expressions were inhibited by PR pretreatment. The expressions of antioxidant protein were downregulated in the ALI control group, whereas Nrf2 activation in the PR group was accompanied by increased levels of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion: PR administration increased the antioxidant enzymes via activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibited the protein levels of NADPH oxidase factors. Taken together, these results showed that PR treatment may be considered to ameliorate acute liver injury induced by TAA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.492-499
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• 2021

In this study, the benthic environmental and microbial community structure were investigated by mixing granulated coal ash(GCA) and contaminated estuary sediments. Estuary sediments and GCA were mixed in a ratio of 8:2 and allowed to interact for 1 month, then sediment environmental factors were investigated. The pH of the experimental sediment was mixed increased to 11. The concentration of DIP(Dissolved inorganic phosphorus) in the experimental case decreased by 30 % compared to the control case, and this should be due to formation of calcium phosphate through the chemical reaction of DIP and calcium which diluted from GCA. The high abundance of Gammaproteobacteria seen in the experimental sediment compare to the control can af ect the DIP reduction. The DIN(Dissolved inorganic nitrogen) concentration increased over two times in the experimental case than the control, and this should be due to the high pH condition and release of NH₄⁺-N from the GCA. Microorganisms related to nitrogen circulation were not identified in both the control and experimental cases. It was confirmed that the GCA were effective in reducing the DIP concentration in contaminated estuary sediment, and that benthic microbial communities were shown to influenced the phosphorus circulation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2022

Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a new index reflecting central lipid accumulation and is known to be a strong independent indicator for identifying the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was conducted to assess the relationship between the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and LAP according to the presence or absence of obesity in Korean adults. The study was carried out using data from the 2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and included 6,090 adults aged 20 years or older. There were several key findings. First, after adjusting for related variables, the mean of the HOMA-IR levels (M±SE, 95% confidence interval) was positively associated with the quartiles of LAP in the overall population (P<0.001), non-obese (P<0.001) or obese groups (P<0.001). Second, in all the groups (overall population, non-obese and obese groups), the mean value of the fasting blood glucose (all, P<0.001), insulin (all, P<0.001), and the metabolic syndrome score (all, P<0.001) increased with the increasing quartiles of LAP. Insulin resistance was thus positively associated with an increase in the LAP in Korean adults with or without obesity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.148-148
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• 2023

산업 고도화로 인하여 복잡하고 다양한 유기물의 사용량이 증가하였으며, 공공수역 내 새로운 오염물질이 유입됨에 따라 생화학적 산소요구량(BOD) 중심의 수질평가에 한계를 나타내었다. 이후 난분해성 물질을 고려한 유기물관리 정책과 총량관리의 필요성이 제기되었고 국내 하천과 호소에서는 총 유기탄소(TOC)를 유기물 관리지표로 설정하였다. 그러나 부영양 하천과 호소에서 TOC는 외부 부하뿐만아니라 식물플랑크톤의 과잉성장에 의해 증가할 수 있는 항목이므로 TOC 관리정책 추진을 위해서는 유기물의 기원에 대한 파악이 필요하다. 한편, 우리나라와 같이 몬순 기후대에 속한 댐 저수지의 경우 강우시 유입하는 탁수에 의해 다량의 유기물과 인이 유입되기도 하지만 식물플랑크톤의 제한요인 중 광량에 많은 영향을 미친다. 식물플랑크톤의 광합성은 수체 내 유기탄소 내부생성에 매우 중요한 요소이나 점 단위의 실험적 방법을 활용한 유기탄소 순환 해석은 저수지의 시·공간적인 변동성을 고려하기에 한계가 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 금강 수계 최대 상수원인 대청호를 대상으로 3차원 수리-수질 모델을 적용하여 유기탄소 성분 별 유입과 유출, 내부생성 및 소멸량을 평가하고 탁수가 저수지에서의 유기탄소 순환에 미치는 영향을 분석하는데 있다. 유기탄소 물질수지 해석을 위해 AEM3D 모델을 사용하였으며 2018년을 대상으로 입력자료를 구축한 후 보정 및 검정을 수행하였다. 모델은 유기탄소를 입자성, 용존성, 그리고 난분해성과 생분해성으로 구분하여 모의하며 유기물질 성상별 실험결과를 이용하여 입력자료를 구축하였으며 유기탄소순환 해석을 위해 4가지의 탄소성분과 조류 세포 내 탄소의 질량 변화율을 계산하였다. 이를 위해 외부 유입·유출부하율, 수체 내 생성(일차생산, 재부상, 퇴적물과 수체 간 확산) 및 소멸률(POC 및 조류 침강, DOC 무기화, 탈질)을 고려하였으며 탁수의 영향을 분석하기 위해 탁수 포함여부 시나리오를 구성하고 유기탄소 생성 및 소멸기작별 변동성을 비교 분석하였다. 모델은 2018년의 물수지를 적절히 재현하였으며 저수지의 수온 및 탁도 성층구조를 잘 재현해내면서 전반적인 수질을 적절하게 모의하였다. 탁수를 고려하였을 시 연간 TOC 부하량 중 내부기원 부하량은 56% 수준이였으나 탁수를 배제한 경우 내부기원 부하량은 82%로 나타났다. 특히, 연평균 Chl-a 농도가 44~48% 차이가 발생하면서 1차생산량이 약 4배가량 증가하였다. 몬순지역에서의 탁수는 체류시간이 긴 성층 저수지에서 식물플랑크톤 성장제어에 큰 영향을 미쳤으며 전반적인 유기탄소 순환을 해석하는데 있어 매우 중요한 인자로 작용하였다.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and periodontitis in the Korean population. Methods: This study utilized data from 9,191 participants of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Periodontitis was defined as a CPI score of 3 or 4. Physical activity was assessed by the trained interviewer using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). IPAQ-SF is composed of vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, and walking activity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses and stratified analyses by obesity were performed. All analyses were conducted separately for males and females. Results: Females who engaged in vigorous and moderate physical activity had a 28% (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54 - 0.95) and 34% (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.44 - 0.98) lower risk of periodontitis, respectively. In obese females, moderate physical activity in obese had a 65% lower risk of periodontitis (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.18 - 0.67). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that moderate-intensity physical activity was inversely associated with a lower risk of periodontitis. In obese females, moderate physical activity had an independent inverse association with periodontitis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.988-1000
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• 2023

Hesperetin(HT) is a potent antioxidant flavonoid aglycone derived from hesperidin(HD). The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of HT and its cyclodextrin(CD) inclusion complexes were compared in vitro. HT was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of HD, and HT/CD complexes were prepared using 𝛽-cyclodextrin(𝛽-CD) and hydroxypropyl-𝛽-cyclodextrin(HP-𝛽-CD) by solvent co-evaporation method. The solubility of the HT/HP-𝛽-CD inclusion complex increased 93.5-fold compared to HT, and the solubility of HT/𝛽-CD increased 22.5-fold. The HT/HP-𝛽-CD inclusion complex showed a similar effect as HT on radical scavenging activity in antioxidant assays, whereas the HT/𝛽-CD inclusion complex showed slightly lower activity than HT. Cytotoxicity was low in the following order; HT/HP-𝛽-CD, HT/𝛽-CD, and HT in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with HT and HT/CD inclusion complexes reduced the levels of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide(NO), tumor necrosis factor-𝛼(TNF-𝛼) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in the cells. HT and HT/HP-𝛽-CD inclusion complex were more effective than HT/𝛽-CD inclusion complex at relatively low concentrations. Inhibitory effects were tested on skin-pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and they showed an antimicrobial effect on S. aureus in the order of HT = HT/HP-𝛽-CD > HT/𝛽-CD, but they did not show any significant inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, HT, the aglycone form of HD, and its CD inclusion complexes showed various biological activities. HT/HP-𝛽-CD inclusion complex, which is the highly soluble form of HT, showed relatively higher activity compared to HT/𝛽-CD inclusion complex.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.158-165
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• 2010

Phytoplankton community structure is one of the indicators that can explain the enviromnental characteristics of coastal waters. In this study, phytoplankton community structure and water quality of aquaculture area were investigated for understanding regional enviromnental characteristics. Thirty stations in aquaculture areas of Tongyeong, southeast coast of Korea, were investigated monthly from January to December, 2009. Phytoplankton community, meteorologic dada and enviromnent factors including temperature, salinity, transparency, nutrients and chlorophyll a were also examined. Chaetoceros spp. and unidentified small flagellates were dominant species in all the year round. Pseudo-nitzschia spp., Dictyocha spp., and Nitzschia longissima were dominant in June to October being summer season, and Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira spp., Eucamphia zodiacus, Akashiwo sanguinea, Gymnodinium spp. and Asterionella japonicus appeared as dominant species in the rest of months. Dinoflagellate blooms occurred 3 times in near Hansan Bay and around Saryang-do, and the highest chlorophyll a was found in Hansan Bay. Species diversity of phytoplankton was lower in Hansan and Womnum Bay, and diatom was more abundant than dinoflagellates in Mireuk-do waters. These results showed that phytoplankton community varied by the seasonal and geographical characteristics, and recent increase of water temperature and heavy rain may affect on phytoplankton community structure.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2004

Purpose: The prognosis of neonates with cholestasis is not clear. Some factors, such as high peak bilirubin levels and liver histologic findings have been claimed to affect the prognosis adversely. Our study aims to define which factors influence the prognosis of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Retrospective reviews of the medical records were performed in 32 cases with neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis, who were admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital from July 1995 to July 2002. Neonates were classified into 2 groups according to the duration of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels more or less than 6 months. The data, such as biochemical, histopathologic and radiologic findings, were compared in both groups. Biochemical data included mean peak level of serum ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase. Histologic parameters related to lobular architecture, fibrosis, inflammatory infiltration and degenerative features of hepatocytes were arbitrary estimated on a scale of 1 to 3. Results: There were 19 males and 13 females, whose mean age was 48 days (14~77 days). The peak serum ALT levels were higher in the poor outcome group. Ductular proliferation and portoportal bridging were more severe in the poor outcome group. But the degree of multinucleated hepatocytes, hepatocellular swelling and canalicular plug did not appear to be significantly related to the long-term outcome. The DISIDA scintigraphy by visualization time of gall bladder and intestine was not useful in predicting outcome of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis. Conclusion: Neonates who have intrahepatic cholestasis with high serum ALT levels, severe ductular proliferation and portoportal bridging in the liver biopsy specimen should be carefully followed up because they may have a poor prognosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.386-399
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined whether the supply of healthy Korean diets for 12 weeks is effective in improving the risk factors related to serum GGT and cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Methods: This study selected 41 patients, who were treated with hypertension and diabetes. The Korean diet was composed of cooked-rice, soup, kimchi, and various banchan with one serving called bapsang, which emphasize proportionally high consumption of vegetables and fermented foods, moderate to high consumption of legumes and fish, and low consumption of animal foods. The control group was instead instructed to "eat and exercise as usual" while following the Korean Diabetes Association's dietary guidelines with an intake that can assist in glycemic control, maintain adequate weight, and meet the nutritional requirements. The Korean diet group (21 patients) were served three healthy Korean meals a day for 12 weeks, and the control group (20 patients, who trained in the diet guideline of diabetes) maintained their usual diabetic diet. The serum GGT, blood pressure, heart rate, glycemic control data, cardiovascular risk indicators, and changes in diet measured at the four visits (week 0, 4, 8, and 12) during the course of 12 weeks were compared and evaluated. Results: The serum GGT (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p = 0.004), heart rate (p = 0.007), weight (p = 0.002), Body Mass Index (p = 0.002), body fat mass (p < 0.001), body fat (%) (p < 0.001), and free fatty acid (p = 0.007) in the Korean diet group decreased significantly after the dietary intervention compared to the control group. The amount of intake of rice, whole grains, green vegetables, Kimchi, and soybean fermented food were increased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The Korean diet group showed significant decreases (p < 0.001) in the intake of animal protein, lipid, and cholesterol derived from animal foods compared to the control group but significant increases (p < 0.001) in the intake of total calories, folic acid, dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, and vitamins A, E, and C. Conclusion: In patients with hypertension and diabetes, it was confirmed that regular eating of a healthy Korean diet helps improve the risk factors for GGT and cardiovascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.293-305
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• 2019

In this study we investigated the effect of a floating photovoltaic (FPV) system in Cheongpung Lake on water quality. The FPV with a tilt angle of 33° covered ca. 0.04% of surface area (97 ㎢) of Chungju Lake. The water qualities of the whole lake before and after installation of FPV were first compared. DO, BOD, TOC, and Chl-a of the whole lake were increased, while conductivity decreased after installation period at the significance level of 0.05. This change was probably due to the increased influx of nutrients by 40% resulting from increased precipitation during the same period. We also measured water quality parameters on May and Nov. 2017 at the FPV center (FPVC) and nearby control sites, and compared water quality. The result showed that the FPVC and nearby sites were not significantly different (p>0.05), demonstrating that the FPV does not cause a decline of water quality. The water temperature, light intensity, and phytoplankton community were also measured. The water temperature was not different between the sites, while the light intensity decreased to 27~50%. Despite reduced light intensity at FPVC, the phytoplankton standing crops and the number of species were not significantly different (p>0.05). However, in the early November samples, standing crops was significantly higher in FPVC than control with periphytic diatoms belonging to Aulacoseira genus being dominant. This may be due to the temporal water body behavior or local retention of current by FPV system. This study may provide a measure of future installation of a FPV system.