• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

Entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps militaris is famous for its medicinal efficacies. It has been reported to have various pharmacological activities such as anti-tumour, insecticidal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the effect of the extract of C. militaris (MPUN8501), which was identified by the analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 5.8S ribosomal RNA, on the function of liver. C. militaris powder was extracted using hot water extracts method as time, volume and temperature and using method as differential polarity of organic solvent. Each fraction was tested for the improvement of hepatic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. The BuOH extracts (CME) had highest activity which was used for the test of toxicity and efficacy of C. militaris. The enhancing effect of CME on the activity of ADH and ALDH was much more than medicine, drink, natural tea etc. Thus CME promoted the resolution of alcohol and acetaldehyde in rats, inducing recovery to normal condition rapidly. Furthermore, oral administration of CME effectively protected the carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic injury as revealed by the hematological parameters (levels of sGOT and sGPT) and histological observation. CME was ascertained to be safe by regulatory toxicity studies of single dose toxicity and genotoxicity. These results suggest that CME would be useful for the maintaining normal hepatic activity as a functional health food.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.636-641
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• 2005

Mulberry leaves, high in dietary fiber and some nutritional materials, are thought to have hypocholesterolemic effect. Therefore, effect of mulberry leaf powder on serum lipid profiles were studied using rats with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed AIN-93 diet (control group), and diets containing high-cholesterol and 0% mulberry leaves powder, high-cholesterol and 5% mulberry leaves powder, and high-cholesterol and 10% mulberry leaves powder for 4 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets except in control group. Although no differences were observed in food intake and initial body weight among groups, mulberry leaf treatment resulted in significant decreases in food efficiency ratio and body weight gain. Mulberry leaf treatment decreased serum lipid profiles, atherogenic index, cardiac risk factor, low density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, serum aspartate transaminase, and liver lipid levels. High density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, serum HDL-cholesterol, and fecal lipid levels increased, suggesting mulberry leaves could improve hyperlipidemia and liver action, thereby proventing cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1454-1459
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects that water temperature and the administration of estradiol-17${\beta}$ (E2) had on the sex ratio and growth of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Glass eels (total length${\fallingdotseq}$6.5 cm) were differentiated into an E2 group and an E2-free group and then they were reared for about four months at three water temperature levels of $20^{\circ}C$, $24^{\circ}C$, and $28^{\circ}C$. The results showed that the young eels survived normally at the rearing water temperature of ${\geq}24^{\circ}C$, and grew to a mean size of 20 cm (total length). In the E2-free group, temperature was not found to increase the sex ratio (feminizing rates); however, the sex ratio of the E2-administrated group was found to be a little higher at a high temperature ($28^{\circ}C$). The growth of the E2 group was lower than the growth of the E2-free group at $24^{\circ}C$ and the E2 concentration levels in the plasma at $24^{\circ}C$ were found to be significant after the end of the E2 administration period (178 days). Therefore, we thought that long-term administration of E2 must be considered to be the reason for growth decline in spite of the prominent sex ratio effect. Our results indicate that temperature was not related to an increase in the feminizing rate (sex ratio) in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, and other environmental factors (rearing density, salinity, etc.) that have the possibility of inducing ovarian differentiation must be investigated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1436-1444
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• 2013

To improve the functionality of black garlic drinks, black garlic extract (5%) and five herb extracts (1%) were mixed in 70:30 (v/v) ratios as BHF1, and BHF2 was prepared using a 3X concentration of BHF1. After the black garlic and herb formulas (BHFs) were administered over the course of five weeks in rats by interval running training, the lipid profiles and the antioxidant enzyme activities were tested. The total phenolic content of the BHFs were significantly higher in BHF2 than they were in BHF1, and their antioxidant activities were dependent upon the total phenolic content. No significant difference was found in the total serum protein levels among the rats in the Ex-con group by interval running training and the rats in the BHFs-fed groups. However, the albumin level was significantly higher in the Ex-BHF2 to Ex-con group. AST and ALT activities significantly decreased in the BHFs-fed groups compared to the Ex-con group. In terms of changes in the serum lipid profiles, no significant difference was found between the specimens that underwent interval running training and those that did not undergo interval running training. Triglyceride levels, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HTR levels in the serum were significantly decreased in the Ex-BHF2 to Ex-con group. No significant difference was found in the total lipid levels in the livers of the BHFs-fed groups and the Ex-con group. The triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels in the Ex-BHF2 group were significantly lower compared to another group. Hepatic catalase activity was significantly increased in the Ex-BHF2 group, but SOD and GSH-px activities were significantly increased as the concentration of the BHF. The antioxidant enzyme activities by supplementation of BHFs increased; thus, three intakes of BHF each day could improve antioxidant status against different types of oxidative stress.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2004

Background : Radiation pneumonitis(RP) is the major serious complication of thoracic irradiation treatment. In this study, we attempted to retrospectively evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients who experienced acute RP and to identify factor that might allow prediction of RP. Methods : Of the 114 lung cancer patients who underwent thoracic radiotherapy between December 2000 and December 2002, We performed analysis using a database of 90 patients who were capable of being evaluated. Results : Of the 44 patients(48.9%) who experienced clinical RP in this study, the RP was mild in 33(36.6%) and severe in 11(12.3%). All of severe RP were treated with corticosteroids. The median starting corticosteroids dose was 34 mg(30~40) and median treatment duration was 68 days(8~97). The median survival time of the 11 patients who experienced severe RP was significantly poorer than the mild RP group. (p=0.046) The higher total radiation dose(${\geq}60Gy$) was significantly associated with developing in RP.(p=0.001) The incidence of RP did not correlate with any of the ECOG performance, pulmonary function test, age, cell type, history of smoking, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, once-daily radiotherapy dose fraction. Also, serum albumin level, uric acid level at onset of RP did not influence the risk of severe RP in our study. Conclusion : Only the higher total radiation dose(${\geq}60Gy$) was a significant risk factor predictive of RP. Also severe RP was an adverse prognostic factor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.674-682
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• 2009

This study was designed to examine the effects of Compositae plants on plasma glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups: normal, STZ-control and three experimental groups [Artemisia iwayomogi (A. iwayomogi), Atractylodes lancea (A. lancea), and Taraxacum mongolicum (T. mongolicum)]. Normal and STZ-control group were fed an AIN-93 diet and three experimental groups were each fed a modified diet containing 10% compositae powder for 4 weeks. The plasma glucose levels at 4 weeks of A. iwayomogi, A. lancea, and T. mongolicum groups were significantly lower than STZ-control group. The A. iwayomogi and A. lancea groups had significantly suppressed hypertrophy of liver and kidney. The hematocrit levels of A. lancea and T. mongolicum group were significantly lower than STZ-control groups. The total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and atherogenic index (AI) of A. lancea group were significantly lower than STZ-control group. Intake of Compositae plants may be effective in antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels. The A. iwayomogi, A. lancea, and T. mongolicum can be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damage from the lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1446-1451
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• 2010

Silk sericin protein was hydrolyzed by seven proteolytic enzymes to examine the effectiveness of the hydrolysates to bind iron. The amino acid nitrogen contents of hydrolysates by Flavourzyme were higher than the others enzymes, and its iron binding capacity showed dose-dependent increase. The bioavailability of iron binding peptide from sericin hydolysates was investigated in iron-deficient rats. Three-week-old male rats were fed iron-deficient diet for three weeks. Rats were divided into four groups (DD: no treated group on iron deficient diet, DD+HI: heme-iron treated group, DD+OI: sericin-Fe, and DD+II: inorganic iron ($FeSO_4$) treated group, and then iron supplemented by injection for one week. After oral administration for one week, the iron contents of serum and liver were significantly higher in DD+OI ($4.2\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $80.1\;{\mu}g/mL$) and DD+HI ($3.2\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $70.6\;{\mu}g/mL$) than DD ($2.0\;{\mu}g/mL$ and $47.9\;{\mu}g/mL$). Hemoglobin content of treated groups was significantly higher than DD, but the significant difference among groups was not shown. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not show any significant difference among all groups. Binding iron to peptide from sericin hydolysates seems to improve its bioavailability and to hasten the cure of iron deficiency in experimental rat.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2004

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) on reproductive characteristic, blood hematological and chemical values in mice. The male mice were intraperitoneally injected DEHP in negative control(no treatment), positive control(corn oil, 3ml/kg B.W), 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg DEHP/kg B.W and the female mice were injected DEHP in control(corn oil, 3ml/kg B.W), 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0mg DEHP/kg B.W with 5 times for 15 days on 3 days interval. The administration of DEHP in male mice were not affect on body weight, epididymis, vesicular gland and coagulating gland weight. The testis weight were slightly higher in DEHP treatment groups than in control. The semen characteristics(sperm concentration, viability, motility and abnormality) of male mice were not difference in all experimental groups. The RBC, Hb, HT, MCV, MCH, MCHC< PLT, albumin, BUN and total protein of blood hematological and chemical values were not affect the administration of DEHP in mice. The WBC values in 10.0mg DEHP group was slightly difference in all experimental group(P>0.05). The histological evaluation of testis, ovary and affevt the reproductive characteristic, blood hematological and chemical values.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2006

Although some phytoes rogens might have beneficiary rather than adverse effects, most endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs) are considered to be harmful to human and wildlife health through interfering the endocrine system. Previously we found that prepubertal exposure to genistein(GS), a well-known isoflavone phytoestrogen, could activate the reproductive system of immature female rats resulting precocious puberty. Interestingly, di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate(DEHP) exposure brought inverse result, a delayed puberty, in the same experimental regimen. In this study, we examined whether prepubertal exposure to GS or DEHP affect the gene expressions of estrogen receptors($ER\;{\alpha}$ and $ER\;{\beta}$) and LH receptor(LHR) which represent the maturational status of ovary and uterus in immature rats. GS (100 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 to the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 32). Similarly, DEHP(l00 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 through the day when the first V.O. in control group was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 36). To determine the transcriptional changes in the hormone receptors, total RNAs were extracted from ovary and uterus and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). In the GS group, the transcriptional activities of $ER\;{\alpha}$, $ER\;{\beta}$ and LHR in uterus and LHR in ovary were significantly increased when compared to those of control group. In the DEHP group, the transcriptional activities of all the hormone receptors measured were significantly lowered when compared to those of control group. These alteration of the reproductive hormone receptor expressions in ovary and uterus might be represent the phenotypic aspects(secondary sexual characteristics) such as tissue weights and reproductive hormone levels during perinatal period in immature female rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.98-110
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary potassium intake, Na/K intake molar ratio, consumption of 18 food groups, and foods contributing to potassium intake of Korean adults as well as the relationships among quartile of potassium intake level and blood pressure, blood biochemical index. Methods: This study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007~2010. The total number of subjects was 20,291. All analyses were conducted using a survey weighting to account for the complex survey design. Results: Overall average intakes of potassium were 2,934.7, 3,070.6, 3,078.1, and 3,232.0 mg/day, and they significantly increased by year in Korean adults. The average dietary potassium intake was close to adequate intake (AI), whereas that of women was considerably lower than the AI. The Na/K intake molar ratio in males (2.89~3.23) was higher than in females (2.62~2.95). The major food groups contributing to potassium intake were vegetables, cereals, and fruits/meats. The two major foods contributing to potassium intake were polished rice and cabbage kimchi. The rankings of food source were as follows; polished rice > cabbage kimchi > potato > oriental melon > sweet potato > seaweed > radish > apple > black soybean. In 50~64 year old females, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol significantly increased (p < 0.05) as potassium intake increased. Triglyceride (TG) was significantly higher in the other quartile of potassium intake level than in the first quartile (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study suggests the need for an appropriate set of dietary reference intakes according to caloric intake by sex and age groups and for development of eating patterns to increase potassium intake and decrease sodium intake.