• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2009

Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae and 4 Vibrio spp, V. anguillarum, V. splendidus, V. harveyi and V. ordalii, were isolated from the diseased olive flounders, Paralichthys olivaceus. The pathogenicity of the isolates were compared to mortality, blood biochemical contents, such as alanineaminotransferase(ALT), aspatate aminotransferase(AST), and cortisol level, and non-specific immune responses, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction of macrophages and lysozyme activities of serum. The mortalities and levels of ALT, AST and cortisol of fishes infected with P. damselae were higher than those of others but significantly low in non-specific immune responses, NBT and lysozyme activities. These results suggest that P. damsela might produce damselysin having high hemolytic and phospholipase activities, correlated with the pathogenicity. P. damsela could also make an obstruction of internal organs, following increasing in the level of ALT and AST, and depression in host immunity caused by induced high levels of cortisol.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.292-302
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• 2004

The nutritional status of middle-aged overweight and control normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of providing the background information of the degenerative disease control. A survey was conducted with 293 healthy subjects (121 males and 172 females) between the ages 40-64. The average BMI (body mass index) of male subjects was 24.5 $\pm2.75$, and that of females was 23.5 $\pm2.87$. The average values of WHR (waist-hip ratio) were 0.88 $\pm0.04$, for males and 0.82 $\pm0.07$, for females. The normal BMI group (BMI 18.5-22.9) comprised 28.9% of males and 47.1% of females. The percentage of overweight subjects (BMI 23-24.9) was 26.4% of males and 30.8% of females. The obese group (BMI ＞ 25) was 44.6% of males ana 22.1% of females, showing the greater rate of obese state among male subjects. The average energy intakes were 76.6 $\pm14.9$% for males and 77.8 $\pm12.6$, % for females, protein intakes were 108.0 $\pm24.6$% for males and 111.2 $\pm22.7$, % for females of the RDA levels. The average intakes of other nutrients were above the 75% of RDA levels except calcium. The average nutrient intakes of the three subgroups according to their BMI values were not different for both males and females. There were weak correlations between obesity and blood biochemical indices. There were positive correlations between BMI or WHR and hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, AST or ALT. There were negative correlations between BMI or WHR and HDL-cholesterol. These results suggest that the obesity rate of middle-aged is an influential factor of chronic disease. The middle-aged subjects of this study with higher educational and socioeconomic background tend to have desirable nutrition knowledge and attitude, but the application of their knowledge or attitude was relatively poor.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.578-585
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• 2005

Maternal zinc deficiency is relatively common worldwide, but its consequences for pregnancy outcome are not established. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of zinc status in the second trimester on pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 248 pregnant Korean women (25-28 wk gestation). Cord blood was collected from subgroup of 69 women and pregnancy outcome data were obtained from 185 babies. Anthropometry measurement, dietary intake, and biochemical characteristics of pregnancy and cord serum substances were measured. The subjects were divided into quartiles on the basis of maternal serum Zn concentration; $ZnQ_1$ (< 25 percentile), $ZnQ_2$ ($26\~50$ percentile), $ZnQ_3$ ($51\~75$ percentile), and $ZnQ_4$ ($76\~100$ percentile). Zn groups were compared in terms of various maternal factors, concentrations of cord serum substances, and pregnancy outcome. Maternal serum Zn concentration was $118.4\;{\pm}\;35.5\;{\mu}g/dl$ as mean. Intake of Zn was lower than Korean RDA. The rate of Zn deficiency among all subjects was $8.5\%$. Maternal serum Zn levels belonged to normal range. Cord serum Zn level was about $154.7\%$ of maternal serum level. Intakes of energy, calcium, iron, folic acid, and riboflavin did not meet the Korean RDA for pregnant women by gestational age. The mean birth weight of neonates is 3083 $\pm$ 697 g, of whom $9.1\%$ were of low birth weight (< 2,500 g). Maternal serum Zn level was positively correlated with pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and vitamin C intake (p < 0.05). $ZnQ_1$ group had significantly lower maternal serum iron concentration and higher cord serum cholesterol than those in other groups. Maternal serum Zn level, cord serum Zn level, and dietary Zn intake were no related to the pregnancy outcome. The birth weight had a correlation with the maternal hemoglobin and albumin concentration. In conclusion, at this study, we could not find the association with maternal Zn status in 2nd trimester and pregnancy outcome.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.503-510
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels have been reported to be related to the occurrence of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. High serum Hcy levels are also related to the development of secondary stroke and all-cause mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of high serum homocysteine level and relating factors, and the change over the 10 month period post-stroke. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Consecutive stroke patients who were admitted to the Asan Medical Center were enrolled. Ten months after the onset of stroke, an interview with a structured questionnaire was performed and blood samples were obtained for the biochemical parameters. Nutritional status was determined using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) score and dietary nutrient intakes were also obtained using a 24 hour recall method. RESULTS: Out of 203 patients, 84% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and 26% had high homocysteine levels at 10 months post-stroke. Using logistic regression, the factors related with high homocysteine levels at 10 months post-stroke included heavy alcohol consumption (P = 0.020), low MNA scores (P = 0.026), low serum vitamin $B_{12}$ (P = 0.021) and low serum folate levels (P = 0.003). Of the 156 patients who had normal homocysteine levels at admission, 36 patients developed hyperhomocysteinemia 10 months post-stroke, which was related to heavy alcohol consumption (P = 0.013). Persistent hyperhomocysteinemia, observed in 22 patients (11%), was related to male sex (P = 0.031), old age (P = 0.042), low vitamin $B_6$ intake (P = 0.029), and heavy alcohol consumption (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemia is common in post-stroke, and is related to malnutrition, heavy alcohol drinking and low serum level of folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. Strategies to prevent or manage high homocysteine levels should consider these factors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cadmium is a toxic metal that is an occupational and environmental concern especially because of its human carcinogenicity; it induces serious adverse effects in various organs and tissues. Even low levels of exposure to cadmium could be harmful owing to its extremely long half-life in the body. Cadmium intoxication may be prevented by the consumption of dietary components that potentially reduce its accumulation in the body. Dietary chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from animal sources; it has been known for its ability to bind to divalent cations including cadmium, in addition to other beneficial effects including hypocholesterolemic and anticancer effects. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of dietary chitosan in reducing cadmium accumulation using an in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cadmium was administered orally at 2 mg (three times per week) to three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats: control, low-dose, and high-dose (0, 3, and 5%, respectively) chitosan diet groups for eight weeks. Cadmium accumulation, as well as tissue functional and histological changes, was determined. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, rats fed the chitosan diet showed significantly lower levels of cadmium in blood and tissues including the kidneys, liver, and femur. Biochemical analysis of liver function including the determination of aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels showed that dietary chitosan reduced hepatic tissue damage caused by cadmium intoxication and prevented the associated bone disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary chitosan has the potential to reduce cadmium accumulation in the body as well as protect liver function and bone health against cadmium intoxication.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.466-471
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Currently, natural products have been shown to exhibit interesting biological and pharmacological activities and are used as chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study, conducted on Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Artemisia arborescens oil on oestroprogestative treatment induced damage on liver. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 36 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; a control group (n = 9), a group of rats who received oestroprogestative treatment by intraperitoneal injection (n = 9), a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens then injected with oestroprogestative treatment (n = 9), and a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens (n = 9). To minimize the handling stress, animals from each group were sacrificed rapidly by decapitation. Blood serum was obtained by centrifugation and the livers were removed, cleaned of fat, and stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ until use. RESULTS: In the current study, oestroprogestative poisoning resulted in oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by 1) a significant increase of lipid peroxidation level in hepatic tissue 2) increased levels of serum transaminases (aspartate amino transferase and serum alanine amino transferase), alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and triglycerides and a decrease in the level of cholesterol 3) alteration of hepatic architecture. Pre-administration of Artemisia arborescens oil was found to alleviate oestroprogestative treatment induced damage by lowering lipid peroxidation level and by increasing activity of catalase, superoxide-dismutase, and glutathione-peroxidase in liver and by reducing disruption of biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the results obtained in this study confirmed that Artemisia essential oil protects against oestroprogestative administration induced hepatotoxicity by restoration of liver activities.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.421-432
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• 1997

A new lectin was partially purified from starfish,Asterina pectinifera by means of physiological saline extraction, salt fractionation, ion exchange chromatography and hy droxyapatite chromatography, and it was named APL. The biochemical properties of the APL were characterized. In addition, its effects on lymphocyte mitogenicity and cancer cell agglutinability were tested. The APL agglutinated nonspecifically human erythrocytes and rabbit blood cells. Agglutinability was decreased to 30% of control activity below pH 5 and above pH 9 and was relatively unstable at increasing temperatures above 60$^{\circ}C$. The activity was reduced by addition of two kinds of metal ions, $Ba^{2+},\;Mn^{2+}$ and chelating agent, EDTA. APL was proved to be glycoproteins containing 9% sugars. For carbohydrate specificity, it was found that the activity of APL was inhibited by D(+)-glucosamine, D(+)-galactosamine, stachyose, N-acetyl-galactosamine and methyl-${\alpha}$-D-galactopyranoside among 35 sugars tested. In amino acid composition, the contents of acidic amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid were relatively high. This result suggest that the isoelectric point would be in a lower range. APL was found that it promotes the division of human lymphocytes. APL was proved to be a potent agglutinin for cancer cells such as HeLa, L929 and L1210 cells. Significant changes on the HeLa cell surfaces affected by APL were observed under the electron microscope.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to evaluate associations between the ratio of serum estrone (E1) to estradiol (E2) and parameters related to serum glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: In total, 133 women between the ages of 18 and 35 diagnosed with PCOS were enrolled in this study. All participants with PCOS underwent blood tests to determine hormonal and biochemical metabolic parameters and a standard 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. They were divided into two groups according to the serum E1-to-E2 ratio: group 1 (E1/E2 ratio <2.0) and group 2 (E1/E2 ratio ≥2.0). Results: In the comparative analysis, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was the only clinical variable that was significantly different between the two groups. Patients with a higher E1/E2 ratio showed higher fasting insulin levels, homeostasis model for insulin resistance, and postprandial glucose level at 2 hours (PPG2). In a correlation analysis, only PPG2 was significantly related to the serum E1/E2 ratio. However, after controlling for the confounding effects of body mass index (BMI) and WHR, fasting glucose was also significantly correlated with the serum E1/E2 ratio. Conclusion: Women with PCOS with a higher serum E1/E2 ratio were found to be more likely to show higher fasting insulin and postprandial glucose levels. Significant correlations were found between the serum E1/E2 ratio and both fasting and postprandial serum glucose levels after adjusting for BMI and WHR in women with PCOS.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 2021

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, irregular menstruation, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Recent studies have reported the possible role of phytoestrogens in PCOS. This animal study aimed to evaluate the effects of genistein on insulin resistance, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, and histopathologic indices on PCOS. Methods: PCOS was induced by 1 mg/kg of letrozole in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats then received normal saline (PCOS group), 150 mg/kg of metformin, or 20 mg/kg of genistein dissolved in 1% methylcellulose solution for 42 days. Body weight, the glycemic and lipid profile, and inflammatory, antioxidative, and histopathological parameters were assessed at the end of the intervention. Results: Treatment with genistein significantly alleviated the increased level of fasting blood insulin (p=0.16) and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (p=0.012). In addition, the genistein group had significantly lower levels of serum malondialdehyde (p=0.039) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p=0.003), and higher superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (p<0.001). Furthermore, the histopathological analysis indicated that genistein administration led to an increase in luteinization and the development of fewer cysts (p<0.05). Conclusion: Biochemical and histopathological analyses indicated that genistein administration to rats with PCOS induced significant remission in oxidative, inflammatory, and glycemic and histopathologic parameters.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2021

In this study, data from the 7th (2016~2018) and 8th (2019) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used, which included 5,325 subjects. Health behavior, dietary and nutrient intake status, physical measurement and biochemical characteristics, and risk factors for elderly related chronic diseases were classified and analyzed according to the changing composition of single households and other households in the current society. As a result, the ratio of current smokers and drinkers in young adult single households, walking less than 30 minutes per day, subjective health status was poor, breakfast rate less than three times per week, eating out frequency more than once a day, lipid intake ratio to total calories, saturation fatty acid intake were significantly higher. In addition, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher. However, dietary fiber intake level was significantly lower. The results for hypertension, which is the representative chronic disease that causes old age-related chronic diseases, were significantly higher in single households (ORs=1.400 (95% CI: 1.095, 1.791), p=0.007). Although young adults may not have showed particularly serious health problems yet, education is believed as important to recognize and prevent age-related disease risk factors.