• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1308-1312
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• 2016

Heavy metals such as gallium (Ga) cause serious physiological damage to exposed organisms, mostly of aquatic species. Ga one of the inter-metallic, transition elements increasingly being used in making high-speed semiconductors, such as Ga arsenide. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of Ga on acute toxicity, serum biochemical changes, and erythrocyte morphological changes in the blood stream of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Median lethal concentrations were determined in acute tests. The 96 hr $LC_{50}$ value was 9.15 mg/ml. Goldfish were exposed to different Ga concentrations (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/ml) for 30 days to assess its toxic effects. The results indicate that the measured serum biochemistry parameters (including glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride) of the Ga-exposed fish groups differed significantly from the untreated fish group. In addition, a change in the erythrocytes' morphology at a high concentration (8.0 mg/ml) of Ga exposure shows respiratory problems. Our results suggest that 2.0 mg/ml is proposed as a biologically safe concentration that can be used for establishing tentative water quality criteria concerning the same-size goldfish.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.567-575
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• 1998

Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer has been known for hundreds of years as the most valuable drug having mysterious effects among all the herbal medicines and plants in Korea. Also, many experimental studies have been performed recently that the various effects were identified and applied clinically. So we attempted an experimental study on the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures in an isolated rat heart with the use of the Langendorff model. The objective of this study was to determine whether this ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures would protect the myocardial injury after ischemic arrest and reperfusion. Isolated rat hearts were allowed to equilibrate for 20 minutes and were then subjected to 15 minutes of normothermic ischemia. After this ischemic period, isolated rat hearts were allowed to reperfusion for 10 minutes(Ischemic Group). In other group , isolated rat hearts were perfused for 60 minutes continuously with normothermia( Normothermic Group). Hemodynamic and biochemical parameters such as heart rate, left ventricular pressure, +dp/dt max, coronary blood flow and cardiac enzymes were measured during initial perfusion, ischemia, reperfusion period (Ischemic group) and 20, 40 and 60 minutes after continuous perfusion(Normothermic group). After completion of the experiment, this data was evaluated and the following results were obtained. 1. Heart rates showed an increase in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups, but statistically significant differences were not identified. 2. LVP(Left Ventricular Pressure) showed statistically significant differences in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups(p<0.005, p<0.01). 3. +dp/dt max showed statistically significant differences in both ischemic and normothermic experimental groups(p<0.01, p<0.01). 4. There were no statistically significant differences in coronary blood flow and cardiac cenzymes in all groups, but experimental groups seemed to have better protection and recovery. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 mixtures has a protective effect on the myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2013

The most critical point in the assessment of adherence to dietary guidelines is the development of a practical definition for adherence, such as a dietary pattern score. The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean Diet Score (KDS) based on the Korean Food Balance Wheel and to examine the association of KDS with various lifestyle characteristics and biochemical factors. The dietary data of 5,320 subjects from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey were used for the final analysis. The food guide was composed of six food group categories; 'grain dishes', 'fish and meat dishes', 'vegetable dishes', 'fruits', 'milk' and 'oils and sugars'. Based on the recommended serving numbers for each group, the scores measuring adherence to this food guide were calculated from the dietary information from the 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire, and then its correlation with various characteristics was assessed. KDS was significantly associated with several clinical, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors as well as diagnosed disease history. The higher quintile group of KDS showed a significantly lower level in fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, current smoking and drinking as well as higher leisure time activity, house income and education. Furthermore, the KDS quintile group of women was inversely associated with hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes. A higher KDS quintile was characterized with a higher intake of several critical nutrients, such as Ca, Fe and vitamins as well as a desirable nutrition balance such as the ratio of macronutrients. Our results demonstrate that KDS is a beneficial tool in assessing the adherence to a healthy diet based on the Korean dietary guidelines. We suggest that KDS could be a useful indicator for evaluating the dietary balance of the Korean population.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.832-841
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• 2013

This research, as a basic preliminary study for development of functional health food, is aimed at assessing the body fat reduction effect and for application to human body for such reduction in actual clinical settings by preliminary extraction of 2 types of wild edible greens, Lythrum salicaria L. and Aceriphyllum rossii. Subjects over the age of 19 and less than 60 years old with BMI value range of $23.0kg/m^2{\sim}29.9kg/m^2$ were recruited through screening were divided into experimental group and control group, each with 25 subjects, through randomized allocation. With both patients and evaluators wearing blindfold, the experimental group was orally administered with 4 capsules of 500mg of composite preparation containing the extracts of Lythrum salicaria L. and Aceriphyllum rossii 3 times a day for a period of 8 weeks while the control group was orally administered with 4 capsules of 500mg of placebo (fake food) with the same appearance as the preparation administered to the experimental group 3 times a day for a period of 8 weeks. After having carried out evaluation on physical examinations (body weight, BMI and body fat ratio, etc.), laboratory tests (general blood test, biochemical test of blood and urine test), lipid test, the changes were analyzed. There was no significant change between the 2 groups and within the groups in BMI and body fat ratio, which are the primary effectiveness evaluation at each time. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in serum lipid and WHR, obesity related KOQOL, KEAT-26 which are the secondary effectiveness evaluations. There was no change between the 2 groups and within the groups in vital sign, CBC, BC and urin test. These results suggest that Lythrum salicaria L. and Aceriphyllum rossii ext. showed no significant reduction in BMI, body fat ratio and serum lipid. Additional confirmative clinical application test is needed in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.435-445
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• 2018

This study was conducted to develop and apply the health conversation program to determine its effectiveness. The study employed a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. There were 25 subjects in one intervention group and 22 subjects in the control group. The program included a 4-week, 12-session education program in health conversation for professionally retired elderly mentors and an 8-week, 24-session program for vulnerable elderly diabetics provided by mentors who were older persons trained in diabetes management. Data were collected from December 2015 to May 2016 and subsequently analyzed by an independent t-test using SPSS 20.0. Biochemical variables and physical variables were assessed by blood test and Inbody 230 (Biospace). Psychosocial variables were assessed by questionnaires. The health conservation program led to significantly decreased FBS (p<0.01), TC (p<0.01), TG (p=0.04), SBP (p=0.03), waist (p<0.01) and symptoms of depression (p=0.01), and significantly increased social support (p=0.02). These results indicated that the health conservation program is effective at increasing social support and decreasing FBS, TC, TG, SBP, waist, and symptoms of depression in community-dwelling vulnerable diabetic elderly; accordingly, health conservation programs should be applied to improve quality of life of vulnerable diabetic elderly.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk factors in Korean type 2 diabetes patients. The subjects were 429 (male: 218, female: 211) type 2 DM patients visited DM clinic, and they were classified into quartiles based on $K_{ITT}$ index (%/min, Insulin Tolerance Test). Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, and dietary intakes by Food Frequency Questionnaire were assessed. The means of waist circumference, fat mass, percent body fat and abdominal fat thickness were significantly higher in the lowest quartile (the most insulin resistant group) than in the highest quartile (the least insulin resistant group) of $K_{ITT}$ index (%/min)(p<0.05), For hematological values, the lowest quartile showed significantly higher fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide, insulin, triglyceride, ApoB/apoA-1 ratio and C-reactive protein compared to the highest quartile (p < 0.05). Moreover, $K_{ITT}$ index (%/min) was negatively correlated with waist circumference, fat mass, percent body fat, abdominal fat thickness and fasting blood concentrations of glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, ApoB/apoA-1 ratio and C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). Nutrient intakes were not significantly different among the quartile groups of $K_{ITT}$ index (%/min) and also not correlated with insulin resistance, however, they showed correlation with obesity parameters (BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, vat mass, abdominal fat thickness), which were strongly associated with insulin resistance. In conclusion, cardiovascular disease risk would be higher as the insulin resistance grows in Korean type 2 DM patients, and nutrient intakes would affect to the insulin resistance through the effect on anthropometric parameters.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: It is expected that dairy products such as cheeses, which are the main source of cholesterol and saturated fat, may lead to the development or increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; however, the results of different studies are inconsistent. This study was conducted to assess the association between cheese consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in an Iranian adult population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Information from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) was used for this cross-sectional study with a total of 1,752 participants (782 men and 970 women). Weight, height, waist and hip circumference measurement, as well as fasting blood samples were gathered and biochemical assessments were done. To evaluate the dietary intakes of participants a validated food frequency questionnaire, consists of 49 items, was completed by expert technicians. Consumption of cheese was classified as less than 7 times per week and 7-14 times per week. RESULTS: Higher consumption of cheese was associated with higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level but not with fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and apolipoprotein B. Higher consumption of cheese was positively associated with consumption of liquid and solid oil, grain, pulses, fruit, vegetable, meat and dairy, and negatively associated with Global Dietary Index. After control for other potential confounders the association between cheese intake and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.81; 96%CI: 0.71-0.94), low HDL-C level (OR: 0.87; 96%CI: 0.79-0.96) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.88; 96%CI: 0.79-0.98) became negatively significant. CONCLUSION: This study found an inverse association between the frequency of cheese intake and cardiovascular risk factors; however, further prospective studies are required to confirm the present results and to illustrate its mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.365-369
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• 2001

Streptococcus spp. of bacterial pathogen of fish were isolated from the cultured flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in fish farm of Jeju Island. Clinical signs of the infected flounder which are the most commons symptoms are as follows: erratic swimming, darkening of the body colour, unilateral or bilateral exophthalmia, corneal opacity, hemorrhages in the opercular and the bases of the fins, and the ulceration of the body surface. Biochemical characteristics of pathogenic fish Streptococcus spp, were gram positive, spherical form, catalase negative, oxidase negative and $\beta$-haemolytic, respectively, The viable cells counted from the tissue of the diseased flounder were the largest in the order of the ulcer, the kidney, the blood and the brain, The drugs used were ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, gentamycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, streptomycin and oxytetracycline, Streptococcus spp. were found to be sensitive to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and gentamycin, but were resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, streptomycin and oxytetracycline. The pathogenicity of Streptococcus spp. on the cultured flounder with an abdominal cavity injection was high. The haemolytic activity of the toxin against the sheep red blood cells reached the maximum after 30 min incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ or $50^{\circ}C$. The toxin showed highest activity at pH $5.5\sim6.5$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2007

This study aimed to examine the harmful effects of Mn and Fe, which may be generated as dust or fume in the industrial sites, on the body and genital organs by their inhalation. It is intended to find the characteristics and differences of the hazardousness by inhaling a single and the mixed materials of Mn and Fe. Male F344 rats were divided into the control group and 3 exposed groups on the basis of the test material compound (Mn $1.5mg/m^3$, Mn 1.5 and Fe $3.0mg/m^3$, Fe $3.0mg/m^3$). The 4 groups were divided into 4 subgroups again on the basis of the exposure period (4 and 13 weeks) and the recovery period (4 and 13 weeks). The exposure condition was 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for the whole body. Clinical tests including changes in weight and feed rate, blood biochemical test, motility change, changes in the number and the amount of spermatozoon (sperm count), daily sperm production (DSP), deformity test of spermatozoon and changes in the accumulation of Mn and Fe in blood and internal organs were performed. Motility was reduced by Mn exposure. Especially, the effect of Mn was exposure period responsible. By mixing with Fe, no significant change in motility Mn and Fe accumulation in organs was observed. Sperm count and daily sperm production (DSP) were decreased by Mn. Additional effect like the reduction of sperm count and DSP, and delayed restoration of sperm count and DSP during the recovery period were observed in the mixed exposure group. These results indicate that Mn and Fe may affect the motility reduced and has male reproductive toxicity. Mixed exposure of Mn and Fe lead to synergic effects on the male reproductive toxicity.