• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

The uptake of cadmium in animals is mainly accumulated in and affected to the liver and kidney by binding with red blood cells and serum albumin. The process accounts for more than 50% of the total accumulated cadmium in the body. The kidneys may be damaged without regarding the pathway uptake of cadmium. In a group of rats on supplements of 1% chlorella and 40 ppm cadmium, the concentration of cadmium in urine greatly decreased by 66% compared to control group, and the total synthesis of metallothionein decreased by 48.6% compared to control group. However, no previous study has assessed the protective effect on kidney damage induced by cadmium uptake through supplementation with chlorella. This study analyzed the biochemical marker for kidney damage in the rats after uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$ and supplementation of the diet of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with 1%, 5%, and 10% chlorella during 4 weeks. In a group of SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2,\;\beta_2$ microglobulin in the urine was found to be $3.1\pm0.6\;{\mu}g/L$, a decrease of 58% compared to a group of Sp rats on uptake of $CdCl_2$ only, in which the $\beta_2$ microglobulin was found to be $4.9\pm0.7\;{\mu}g/L$. According to the results of histopathological observation, the accumulation of mild and localized chronic inflammatory cells in kidney tissues was observed in 50% of the SD rats on uptake of cadmium only. In contrast, only 30% of the SD rats on supplementation with 1% chlorella and uptake of 40ppm $CdCl_2$, representing a histopathological abnormality, and there were no histopathological abnormalities at all in groups of SD rats on supplementation with 5% or 10% chlorella and uptake of 40 ppm $CdCl_2$. In conclusion, protein, calcium, and iron, which account for more than 50% of the total dried chlorella composition, may contribute to the reduction nephrotoxicity by stimulating both inhibited absorption of cadium and increased excretion of accumulated cadmium in kidneys.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.425-436
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• 2010

Objectives : Hypothyroidism is a relatively common endocrinologic disease, especially among older women. Western medical doctors treat hypothyroidism with levothyroxine, however there are several side effects, including thyrotoxicosis, atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, etc. Therefore, traditional Korean medicine(TKM) offers an appealing alternative therapy for hypothyroidism. In this study, Cuscuta Semen was used to analyze its possible effect on a hypothyroidism rat model induced by propylthiouracil(PTU). Methods : 24 two-month-old Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were divided into 4 groups: normal (n=6), PTU-induced hypothyroidism control(n=6), hypothyroidism rat treated with Cuscuta Semen (n=6), and hypothyroidism rat treated with levothyroxine(n=6). PTU was administered for 4 weeks, Cuscuta Semen and levothyroxine was administered 2 weeks after PTU was initiated for a total duration of 2 weeks. Blood samples from all the rats were taken from their hearts and analyzed. Results : When compared to the normal group, the PTU-induced control group showed significantly lower $T_4$, $T_3$ levels and significantly higher TSH level, which is indicative of hypothyroidism. The Cuscuta Semen group had significantly higher $T_4$ and significantly lower TSH than the control group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in biochemical labs and weight between the Cuscuta Semen and control groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that Cuscuta Semen could be effective in increasing thyroid hormone production, and be powerful enough to affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis. Also, no adverse effects related with Cuscuta Semen were found, suggesting that it is relatively safe to administer. In conclusion, it seems that Cuscuta Semen is a safe alternative medicine for hypothyroidism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.955-970
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to identify and analyze the patterns to compare the characteristics of asthma patients. Methods: The subjects were 40 asthma patients who had satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups, and cold syndrome and heat syndrome groups. Their quality of life was measured by the quality of life questionnaire for adult Korean asthmatics (QLQAKA) and VAS. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured, and the degree of obesity was evaluated by body mass index (BMI). Hematological, biochemical, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E laboratory tests were included. Results: Based on pattern identification, the 40 asthma patients could be divided into two categories of groups: 1) the deficiency syndrome (N=18) and the excess syndrome (N=22) groups: 2) the cold syndrome (N=35) and the heat syndrome (N=5) groups. The mean value of HF differed significantly between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The mean value of IgE in blood tests of asthmatics was greater than four times the reference value. For BMI, the subjects were classified into three groups: normal weight (N=12), overweight (N=12), and obese (N=16). Conclusions: Development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool could play a crucial role in asthma control. In addition, good control of asthma can improve the quality of life. Obesity is one of the factors associated with asthma exacerbation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2015

Polycan originating from Aureobasidium pullulans is mostly composed of β-1, 3/1, 6 glucans and possesses an anti-osteoporotic effect. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine the efficacy and safety of the polycan on bone biochemical markers in healthy perimenopausal women. Sixty subjects were randomly allocated to 2 groups-group 1 received 400 mg of polycan and group 2 received placebo-these were administered once daily for 28 days. Fasting blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was change in osteocalcin (OSC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP). Changes in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (CTx), N-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (NTx), and deoxypyridinoline (DPYR) were the secondary outcomes. A safety assessment was performed using adverse event (AE) and laboratory data. After 4 weeks of polycan treatment, OSC, DPYR, and BALP levels changed (P < 0.05) significantly from baseline in both groups. However, no significant differences were observed in any markers between the 2 groups, except for P (P < 0.05). Interestingly, group 2 showed a significant increase in CTx (65.2%, P < 0.05), while CTx in group 1 slightly increased (17.2%). Both groups showed no significant differences in AE. Although 4 weeks of polycan treatment did not have a statistically significant effect on bone metabolism biomarkers, increases in CTx were modestly inhibited by polycan. Further studies in a large population and longer treatment periods are needed to confirm the effect of polycan on bone turnover.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.10
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• 2016

Background: Heat stress adversely affects the physiological and metabolic status, and the productive performance of buffalo. Methods: The present study was conducted to explicate the effect of misting and wallowing cooling strategies during heat stress in lactating Murrah buffalo. The study was conducted for three months (May-July) of which first two months were hot dry and last month was hot humid. Eighteen lactating buffaloes, offered the same basal diet, were blocked by days in milk, milk yield and parity, and then randomly allocated to three treatments: negative control (no cooling), cooling by misting, and cooling by wallowing. Results: The results showed higher (P < 0.05) milk yield in buffaloes of misting and wallowing group compared to control during the experimental period however wallowing was found more (P < 0.05) effective during July (hot humid period). Both the treatments resulted into significant (P < 0.05) reduction in rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) compared to control animals during study period whereas wallowing was found to be effective on pulse rate (PR) only during July. Both treatments were resulted in mitigating the heat stress mediated decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), lymphocytopnoea and neutrophilia whereas decrease in total erythrocyte count (TEC) and monocytes was only mitigated by wallowing. Heat load induced alteration in serum creatinine and sodium concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated by misting and wallowing whereas aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase activity, and reactive oxygen species concentration could be normalized neither by misting nor by wallowing. The significant (P < 0.05) increment in serum cortisol and prolactin levels observed in June and July period in control animals was significantly (P < 0.05) prevented by misting and wallowing. Conclusions: It can be concluded that misting and wallowing were equally effective in May and June (hot dry period) whereas wallowing was more effective during hot humid period in preventing a decline in milk production and maintaining physiological, metabolic, endocrine and redox homeostasis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.306-316
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the functional characteristics and safety properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from salt-fermented anchovy, a putative probiotic candidate. The following isolates were identified by biochemical profiles, carbohydrate fermentation patterns, and 16S rRNA sequencing: Enterococcus faecium AJ06, Leuconostoc mesenteroides AJ13, Pediococcus halophilus AJ22, Lactobacillus sakei AJ29, and Pediococcus pentosaceus AJ35. The strains AJ06, AJ22, AJ29 exhibited high tolerance to simulated gastric and intestinal juices and were able to produce bile salt hydrolase on MRS agar plates supplemented with taurocholic acid and/or taurodeoxycholic acid. The strains AJ22 and AJ29, which demonstrated high adherence to Caco-2 cells and resistance to various antibiotics, effectively inhibited the growth of food-borne pathogens by the production of antimicrobial substances. These strains did not show ${\alpha}-$ or ${\beta}$-haemolysis on blood agar. Furthermore, biogenic amines in MRS broth containing the precursor amino acids were not mutagenic in Salmonella Typhimurium TA98 and TA100.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.11-23
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• 1978

This study is based on data from the nutritional and clinical survey in Chung Nam area, namely Myl-Yang-Ri, Yoon-Gok-Myon, Chyung Yang Koon. Under the direction of two Nutrition professors and two clinical pathology professors it was carried by 35 Dae Jeun medical Junior College students majoring in nutrition and clinical pathology from 18 July to 25 July 1978. The nutrition surveys were carried out with subjects in village from a total 67 households, 36 of them were randomly selected. The clinical surveys were carried out with subjects in village from a total 382 inhabitant, 154 inhabitant were randomly selected and 109 peoples were subjected to stool examination. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows. 1) Nutritional survey a) Food Intake The average food intake per person per day in survey area was 929.9 grams (95.5% in vegetables and 4.5% in animal foods). The average consumption of the basicfood groups per person per day was 965g for meats and legumes (10.4% of the total food in take). 268.9g for fruits and vegetables (29% of the total food intake), 559.1g for cereals and potatoes(60.1% of the total food intake), 5.2g for milk and small fishes and 0.2g for fats and oils. b) Nutrient Intake The average daily consumption of calories and nutrients was 2054.1 kcal and 61.2g for total proteins, 223.2mg for calcium, 9.5mg for iron, 4914.4 IU for vitamin A, 1.5mg for thiamin, 1.2mg for riboflavin, 19.9mg for niacin and 54.7mg for ascorbic acid. When these figures are compared with the recommended allowances for Korean, the calories and nutrients intakes were insufficient. Especially the intakes of the calcium were lower than the recommended allowance which are 500 milligrams per day. c) Kinds of food stuffs consumed The kinds of food stuffs consumed by the subjects were 47 figures total. Generally these kinds of food were vegetables food. 2) Clinical Survey a) The mean value of hemoglobin from 72 males was 13.2g/dl, that of 82 females was 12.3g/dl. b) The proportion of low hemoglobin (<12.2g/dl for male and <11.3g/dl fo female) for male was 20.8%, females was 11.0% and from 24 male & female (both sexes) were 15.6% c) The mean value of Hematocrit of males was 39.6%, that of females was 37.4%. d) The mean value of MCHC of males was 33.9%, that of females was 33.6%. e) The ABO blood group was distributed as following; 30.5%, for group O, 29.2% for group A, 24.0% for group B, and 16.3% for AB group. Biochemical race index was 1.13. f) The over all prevalence rate of heminthic infectious by rate of each helminth was as following; Ascaris lumbricoides 33.9%, Thrichocephalus trichiurus 11.9%, Hookworm 0.9%, Hymenolepis diminuta 0.9%, Trichostromgylus orientalis 0.9% and the prevalence rate of two more helminthic infection was 7.2%.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and functions primarily as a lipid antioxidant. Inadequate vitamin E status may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate intake and plasma concentration of each tocopherol and to evaluate vitamin E status of Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h food recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 59-y-old adults (33 males and 73 females) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-, ${\delta}$-, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol intakes and plasma concentrations of tocopherols (${\alpha}$-, ${\delta}$-, and ${\gamma}$- tocopherol) were analyzed by gender. RESULTS: Dietary vitamin E and total vitamin E intake (dietary plus supplemental vitamin E) was $17.68{\pm}14.34$ and $19.55{\pm}15.78mg$ ${\alpha}$-tocopherol equivalents, respectively. The mean daily ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol intakes were $3.07{\pm}2.27mg$ and $5.98{\pm}3.74mg$, respectively. Intakes of total vitamin E and each tocopherol of males were significantly higher than those of females (P < 0.05). Plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration was $15.45{\pm}10.16$ of males and $15.00{\pm}4.54{\mu}mol/L$ of females, respectively. There were no significant differences in plasma tocopherol concentrations by gender ($P{\geq}0.05$). Plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was negatively correlated with ${\gamma}$-tocopherol intake (P < 0.05). Twenty-three percent of the subjects had plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations < $12{\mu}mol/L$ indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin E. Approximately 8% and 9% of these participants had plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol:total lipid ratio less than $1.59{\mu}mol/mmol$ and plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol:total cholesterol ratio less than $2.22{\mu}mol/mmol$, respectively, which are also indicative of vitamin E deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E intakes of Korean adults were generally adequate with the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin E. However, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol intake was lower than that reported in other countries, and 23% of the subjects in the current study were vitamin E deficient based on plasma ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentrations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.334-351
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the improvement effect of white ginseng extract (GS-KG9) on D-galactosamine (Ga1N)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups. Rats were orally administrated with GS-KG9 (300, 500, or 700 mg/kg) or silymarin (25 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The rats of the GS-KG9- and silymarin-treated groups and a control group were then intraperitoneally injected Ga1N at a concentration of 650 mg/kg for 4 days. To investigate the protective effect of GS-KG9 against GalN-induced liver injury, blood liver function indicators, anti-oxidative stress indicators, and histopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum biochemical analysis indicated that GS-KG9 ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in GalN-treated rats. The hepatoprotective effects of GS-KG9 involved enhancing components of the hepatic antioxidant defense system, including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). In addition, GS-KG9 treatment inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by GalN treatment in hepatocytes and significantly increased the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins, which are antioxidant proteins. In particular, by histological analyses bases on hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, α-smooth muscle actin, and transforming growth factor-β1 staining, we determined that the administration of 500 mg/kg GS-KG9 inhibited hepatic inflammation and fibrosis due to the excessive accumulation of collagen. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that GS-KG9 improves GalN-induced liver inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GS-KG9 may be considered a useful candidate in the development of a natural preventive agent against liver injury.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2003

An analysis of heart movement is to estimate a role which supplies blood in human body. We have constructed a left ventricle myocardium model and mathematically evaluated the motion of myocardium. The myocardial motility was visualized using some parameters about cardiac motion. We applied the myocardium model in the gated myocardium SPECT image that showed a cardiac biochemical reaction, and analyzed a motility between the gated myocardium SPECT image and the myocardium model. The myocardium model was created of the based on three dimensional super-ellipsoidal model that was using the sinusoidal function. To express a similar form and motion of the left ventricle myocardium, we calculated parameter functions that gave the changing of motion and form. The LSF algorithm was applied to the myocardium gated SPECT image data and the myocardium model, and finally created a fitting model. Then we analyzed a regional motility direction and size of the gated myocardium SPECT image that was constructed on a fitting model. Furthermore, we implemented the Bull's Eye map that had evaluated the heart function for presentation of regional motility. Using myocardium's motion the evaluation of cardiac function of SPECT was estimated by a contraction ability, perfusion etc. However, it is not any estimation about motility. So, We analyzed the myocardium SPECT's motility of utilizing the myocardium model. We expect that the proposed algorithm should be a useful guideline in the heart functional estimation.