• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2537-2542
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• 2015

Background: Nutrition transition is a global health problem, especially in developing countries. It is known as an important factor for development of different types of health conditions including cancers. Objectives: We aimed to assess the pattern of nutrition transition in a high-risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers in Northern Iran during the last decade. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on households of Golestan province, Iran. Data on household food consumption between 2001 and 2010 were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran. The proportions of households with medium/high consumption of main foods were calculated for each year. Joint point software was used for assessing trends. Annual percent changes (APCs) and 95%CIs were calculated. Results: In total, 12,060 households were recruited. The APCs (95%CI) of the proportion of households medium/high consumption of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fish, dairy products and meats were -3.1 (-4.1 to -2.2), -2.9 (-3.8 to -2.1), -2.3 (-3.2 to -1.4), -2.8 (-3.3 to -2.4), -1.9 (-3.0 to -0.9) and 2.7 (1.2 to 4.3), respectively. Conclusions: We found significant increase in meat consumption among our population between 2001 and 2010. Our results also suggested significant decreasing trend in consumption of so-called healthy foods including, plant foods, fish, and dairy products. Regarding its correlation with health conditions including cancers, nutrition transition should be considered as a priority in health policy making in our region as well as other high-risk populations. It is recommended to conduct community level interventions to increase consumption of plant foods, fish, and dairy products.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3931-3936
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• 2015

Fatty liver disease (FLD) can be a precondition for other liver pathology including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been suggested in some studies to be a risk factor for FLD as well as cancers, including cholangiocellular carcinoma; however, there are currently very few studies on FLD in DM subjects, although the rate of FLD continues to increase annually. To determine the association between DM and FLD ultrasonographic data were analyzed from the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), in northeast Thailand. DM was reported by the subjects based on the CASCAP health questionnaire. Factors that were associated with FLD were determined by prevalence, odds ratio (ORs) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression. There were 45,263 subjects with a mean age of 53.46 (${\pm}9.25$) years. FLD was found in 36.3% of DM subjects but only in 20.7% of non-DM subjects. The association between DM and FLD was adjusted for all other factors including gender, age, education level, relatives diagnosed with CCA, smoking, alcohol consumption, and hepatitis B and C. The risk of DM in subjects having FLD was highly significant compared with the non-DM subjects (OR 2.13; 95%CI: 1.92 to 2.35; p-value < 0.001). Thus DM is significantly associated with FLD which in turn may facilitate the development of several diseases including CCA. DM should be taken into consideration in future ultrasonic investigations of FLD and CCA.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2014

As with humans, overweight or obesity is a major health concern in the companion animal population. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of dog owners attending primary small animal veterinary practices from different areas in Chuncheon, Kangwon province, Korea was undertaken to explore the relationships between socioeconomic and other relevant risk factors associated with canine obesity. In addition, the author was to estimate the prevalence of obesity compared to published literatures for dogs. Owners were asked about dog age, neuter status, feeding habits, dog exercise, household income and owner age. The body condition score (BCS) of the dogs was also assessed. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between BCS and potential risk factors controlling for confounding variables, using odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 275 dogs (136 males and 139 females) aged 1-12 years (mean age $5.6{\pm}3.7$ years) were surveyed in 2013. Of these, 46.9% of dogs (n = 129) were classed as an ideal body shape (BCS = 3), 30.9% (n = 85) were overweight (BCS = 4), 8.4% (n = 23) were obese (BCS = 5) and 13.8% (n = 38) were underweight (BCS = 1 or 2). Neutered males and spayed females had the highest prevalence of obesity (43.4% and 33.9%); intact females had the lowest prevalence of obesity (31.6%). In univariable model, risk factors associated with canine obesity are multifactorial and include owner income, owner age, age of dog, neuter status, frequency of feeding per day, frequency of snacks and consultation with veterinarian on dog's weight. In final multivariable logistic regression model, dogs whose owners reported no consultation with veterinarians for weight management were significantly more likely to be obesity than ideal (OR = 7.6, 95% CI, 4.2-13.8; p < 0.0001). This study showed a high prevalence of obesity in domestic companion dogs. Since this was a cross-sectional study with small samples, the association of canine obesity with risk factors warrants more research. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first Korean study on dog body condition and obesity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2016

Background: We evaluated the drug interaction profile of Red Ginseng (RG) with respect to the activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in healthy Korean volunteers. Methods: This article describes an open-label, crossover study. CYP probe cocktail drugs, caffeine, losartan, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam, and fexofenadine were administered before and after RG supplementation for 2 wk. Plasma samples were collected, and tolerability was assessed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios of the parameters were determined from logarithmically transformed data using analysis of variance after RG administration versus before RG administration. Results: Fourteen healthy male participants were evaluated, none of whom were genetically defined as poor CYP2C9, 2C19, and CYP2D6 metabolizers based on genotyping. Before and after RG administration, the geometric least-square mean metabolic ratio (90% CI) was 0.870 (0.805-0.940) for caffeine to paraxanthine (CYP1A2), 0.871 (0.800-0.947) for losartan (CYP2C9) to EXP3174, 1.027 (0.938-1.123) for omeprazole (CYP2C19) to 5-hydroxyomeprazole, 1.373 (0.864-2.180) for dextromethorphan to dextrorphan (CYP2D6), and 0.824 (0.658-1.032) for midazolam (CYP3A4) to 1-hydroxymidazolam. The geometric mean ratio of the area under the curve of the last sampling time ($AUC_{last}$) for fexofenadine (P-gp) was 0.963 (0.845-1.098). Administration of concentrated RG for 2 wk weakly inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 and weakly induced CYP2D6. However, no clinically significant drug interactions were observed between RG and CYP and P-gp probe substrates. Conclusion: RG has no relevant potential to cause CYP enzyme- or P-gp-related interactions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 1997

The R-mb locus of maize is one of several genes that encode tissue-specific transcriptional regulator for the anthocyanin biosynthesis in plant parts and the aleurone layer in seeds. We found that the seed pigment frequencies gradually decreased at selfed progenies of the R-mb genetic stocks. In order to analyze the genomic structure of R-mb locus components, genomic Southern blot was performed by using R specific probe, pR-nj:1. Two bands were detected at the size of about 3.9 and 7.75kb. Five R-mb positive clones (mb-II, III, V,Ⅵ, and Ⅶ) were obtained by screening of maize genomic λFIXII library using R specific probe pR-nj:1. We constructed the restriction map of clone mb-II (7.75Kb positive) and mb-Ⅵ (3.9Kb positive), and have compared these with other R locus genes. From genetic and molecular analysis, it is suggested that R-mb complex consists two copy of R elements, and each element shows the paramutagenic and gene silencing effects by the fashion of cis-inactivation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.820-823
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• 2002

The diethylet er fraction from the leaves extract of Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis (Compositae) was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and yielded three new terpenoids named spiciformisin a (1), spiciformisin b (3), and monocyclosqualene (2). Acyclic diterpenes, spiciformisin a and -b, were established as 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,3(20)-hexadecadiene and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,3,6,10,14-hexadecapentaene (IUPAC), respectively. A monocyclic triterpene, monocyclosqualene, were determined as [3,8,12,16,16-pentamethyl-(3,7,11,15-hexadecatetraenyl)]-3,3,5-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene. The structures were determined on the basis of NMR and MS analysis. Spiciformicin b showed potent cytotoxicity ($IC_{50},{\;}<9.7{;\}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$ against HL-60) in contrast to no cytotoxicity ($IC_{50},{\;}>200{\;}}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml against HL-60 cells) of spiciformicin a with a cis-conjugated dienyl diexomethylene.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2008

OsMADS1 is a rice MADS box gene necessary for floral development. To identify the key cis-regulatory regions for its expression, we utilized transgenic rice plants expressing GUS fusion constructs. Histochemical analysis revealed that the 5.7-kb OsMADS1 intragenic sequences, encompassing exon 1, intron 1, and a part of exon 2, together with the 1.9-kb 5' upstream promoter region, are required for the GUS expression pattern that coincides with flower-preferential expression of OsMADS1. In contrast, the 5' upstream promoter sequence lacking this intragenic region caused ectopic expression of the reporter gene in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Notably, incorporation of the intragenic region into the CaMV35S promoter directed the GUS expression pattern similar to that of the endogenous spatial expression of OsMADS1 in flowers. In addition, our transient gene expression assay revealed that the large first intron following the CaMV35S minimal promoter enhances flower-preferential expression of GUS. These results suggest that the OsMADS1 intragenic sequence, largely intron 1, contains a key regulatory region(s) essential for expression.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.529-534
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• 2012

The fluorescence of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) bound to DNA at a [DAPI]/[DNA base] ratio of 0.005 was quenched by meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (TMPyP) or cis-bis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (BMPyP) when both DAPI and either porphyrin spontaneously bound to the same DNA strand. The quenching was investigated using the "one-dimensional inner sphere" and the "F$\ddot{o}$rster resonance energy transfer" (FRET) models. Total quenching occurred when DAPI and TMPyP were up to 19.3 base pairs or $66\AA$ apart. BMPyP could quench the fluorescence up to 13.9 base pairs or $47\AA$. TMPyP, which intercalated between the DNA base-pairs, appeared to be a better acceptor than BMPyP, which stacked along the DNA stem. The higher quenching and higher resonance energy transfer efficiency of TMPyP was due to the larger overlap integral between its absorption spectrum and the emission spectrum of DNA-bound DAPI.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.9 no.4 s.21
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• pp.53-57
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• 2003

This study was carried out in order to develop brand and packing design for agricultural products of Dangjin County. Current packing designs such as rice packs, cucumber box, sweet potato box, apple box and kimchi pack were collected from agricultural cooperatives in Dangjin area. For those packing designs, corporate identity(CI) clinic was conducted and the results obtained were as follows: There are varieties of names, colors, fonts, and sizes far the same items, so that consumers could not easily find and understand those CIs of agricultural products in Dangjin County. Among others, those packages are needed CI clinic such as the packages of Dangjin apple(Song-ak Agricultural Cooperative), Dangjin sweet potato(Seok-moon A. C.) and rice(Daehoji A. C., Shinpyeong A. C.). However, the packing design of Hyang-chae-bang Kimchi is evaluated as good design. For CI clinic, it is desirable to develop unique and united brand name and simple design for the packages such as the case of 'Anseong-Matzum' of Anseong City, which is unique and united brand name with simple design enhancing synergy effect for agricultural marketing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.252-252
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• 2009

In this work, the nanocrystalline ZnO/polycrystalline (poly) aluminum nitride (AlN)/Si structure was fabricated for humidity sensor applications based on surface acoustic wave (SAW). In this structure, the ZnO film was used as sensing material layer. These ZnO and AlN(0002) were deposited by so-gel process and a pulse reactive magnetron sputtering, respectively. These experimental results showed that the obtained SAW velocity on AlN film was about 5128 m/s at $h/\lambda$=0.0125 (h and $\lambda$ is thickness and wavelength, respectively). For ZnO sensing layers coated on AlN, films have hexagonal wurtzite structure and nanometer particle size. The crystalline size of ZnO films annealed at 400, 500, and 600 $^{\circ}C$ is 10.2, 29.1, and 38 nm, respectively. Surface of the film exhibits spongy which can adsorb steam in the air. The best quality of the ZnO film was obtained with annealing temperature at 500 $^{\circ}Cis$. The change in frequency response (127.9~127.85 MHz) of the SAW humidity sensor based on ZnO/AlN structure was measured along the change in humidity (41~69%). The structural properties of thin films wereinvestigated by XRD and SEM.