• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.326-334
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• 2009

Blood coagulation and aggregation of platelet are crucial events in the pathogenesis of various ischemic diseases. The substance which can prevent blood coagulation and platelet aggregation was extracted from wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricular-judae) and its anticoagulation activity was investigated. The dried A. auricular-judae was extracted with 0.1 N NaOH and its supernatant was further extracted with methanol and ethanol followed by $H_{2}O$. The resulting methanol soluble fraction showed significant antithrombotic activity in activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time assays with values of 100, 124, and 54 sec, respectively. This active substance was purified with DEAE-Sepharose CL6B and Sephacryl 400-HR and was found to be polysaccharide with the average molecular weight of over 150 kDa. This polysaccharide was xyloglucomannan of which the main component was mannose, and its anticoagulant activity was mostly mediated by inhibition of thrombin activity.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.257-264
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 70% ethanol extract (DR) on the mast cell-mediated allergic contact dermatitis induced by dinitrofluorobenzene in BALB / c mice, which affects the cell activity by antigen in RBL-2H3 mast cells Respectively. The ethanol extracts of RBL-2H3 cells activated by DNP-HSA and anti-DNP IgE antibodies inhibited the secretion of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, histamine, and IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ Production was suppressed. In the DNFB-induced contact allergic dermatitis animal model, treatment with ethanol extract reduced ear swelling and inhibited serum histamine and IL-4 secretion, and DR treatment effectively prevented mast cell infiltration in dermatitis-induced areas. As a result, the ethanol extract may be used as a therapeutic agent for mast cell-mediated allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2021

Eisenia bicyclis is known to have secondary metabolites exhibiting various biological activities. In a preliminary study, the n-hexane fraction obtained from the ethanolic extract of E. bicyclis showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than the ethyl acetate and butyl alcohol fractions based on the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Using this fraction (E. bicyclis hexane fraction, EHF), we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with up to 50 ㎍/mL EHF significantly inhibited NO and prostaglandin E₂ production as well as their responsible enzyme proteins and mRNAs, in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Similarly, EHF markedly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as their mRNA levels. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was strongly suppressed by EHF treatment. EHF significantly reduced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt in LPS-stimulated cells. Moreover, EHF reduced ear edema in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced mice. These results indicate that EHF contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds, which may be used as a dietary supplement for the prevention of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare effects of tone-burst (TB) and narrow-band (NB) Claus Elberling (CE)-chirp stimuli on amplitude, latency and interaural asymmetry ratio (IAR) of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) in healthy individuals. Subjects and Methods: The study included 50 healthy volunteers. cVEMP procedure was carried out using 500 Hz TB and NB-CE-chirp stimulus (360-720 Hz, up-chirp) in random order. cVEMP were recorded at 100 dB nHL. For each ear and each stimulus, P1 latency, N1 latency and P1N1 amplitude were measured. IAR was also calculated. Results: Mean age was 26.66±9.48 years. cVEMP's in response to both TB and NB CE-chirp stimuli were obtained in all subjects. No statistically significant difference in P1 latency, N1 latency, and P1N1 amplitude was found between the right and left ears for both TB and NB CE-chirp stimuli (p>0.05). In both sides, P1 and N1 latencies were significantly shorter in NB CE-chirp stimulation compared to TB stimulation (p=0.000). In both sides, no statistically significant difference was found in P1N1 amplitude between two types of stimuli (p>0.05). Conclusions: The chirp stimulus produces robust but earlier cVEMP than TB does. This largest series study on NB chirp cVEMP shows that NB chirp is a good and new reliable alternative.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.468-474
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• 2022

Background: The new type of corona virus has a wide range of symptoms. Some people who have COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions. The authors aimed to investigate prolonged musculoskeletal pain as a symptom of the post-COVID-19 condition. Methods: This is a descriptive study on the patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a university hospital, between March 2020 and March 2021. Patient records and an extensive questionnaire were used to obtain relevant demographic and clinical characteristics, including hospitalization history, comorbidities, smoking history, duration of the pain, the area of pain, and the presence of accompanying neuropathic symptoms. Results: Of the diagnosed patients, 501 agreed to participate in the study. Among the participants, 318 had musculoskeletal pain during COVID-19 infection, and 69 of them reported prolonged pain symptoms as part of their a post-COVID condition which could not be attributed to any other cause. The mean duration of pain was 4.38 ± 1.73 months, and the mean pain level was 7.2 ± 4.3. Neuropathic pain symptoms such as burning sensation (n = 16, 23.2%), numbness (n = 15, 21.7%), tingling (n = 10, 14.5%), stinging (n = 4, 5.8%), freezing (n = 1, 1.4%) were accompanied in patients with prolonged musculoskeletal pain. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 may develop prolonged musculoskeletal pain. In some patients, neuropathic pain accompanies it. Awareness of prolonged post-COVID-19 pain is crucial for its early detection and management.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare effects of tone-burst (TB) and narrow-band (NB) Claus Elberling (CE)-chirp stimuli on amplitude, latency and interaural asymmetry ratio (IAR) of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) in healthy individuals. Subjects and Methods: The study included 50 healthy volunteers. cVEMP procedure was carried out using 500 Hz TB and NB-CE-chirp stimulus (360-720 Hz, up-chirp) in random order. cVEMP were recorded at 100 dB nHL. For each ear and each stimulus, P1 latency, N1 latency and P1N1 amplitude were measured. IAR was also calculated. Results: Mean age was 26.66±9.48 years. cVEMP's in response to both TB and NB CE-chirp stimuli were obtained in all subjects. No statistically significant difference in P1 latency, N1 latency, and P1N1 amplitude was found between the right and left ears for both TB and NB CE-chirp stimuli (p>0.05). In both sides, P1 and N1 latencies were significantly shorter in NB CE-chirp stimulation compared to TB stimulation (p=0.000). In both sides, no statistically significant difference was found in P1N1 amplitude between two types of stimuli (p>0.05). Conclusions: The chirp stimulus produces robust but earlier cVEMP than TB does. This largest series study on NB chirp cVEMP shows that NB chirp is a good and new reliable alternative.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is known to be effective in improving symptoms of numerous diseases such as depression and epilepsy by increasing vagus nerve activity through electrical stimulation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on the activity of autonomic nervous system and the changes in postprandial blood glucose levels. Seven healthy adults participated in a non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation experiment. taVNS (25 Hz, 200 ㎲, biphasic pulse) was applied to the cymba concha (taVNS group) or the earlobe (Sham-taVNS group) of the left ear. As autonomic nervous system signals, skin conductance level, skin temperature, and heart rate were recorded during the application of taVNS. Postprandial blood glucose changes due to food intake were recorded at 5 min intervals for 25 minutes after taVNS or sham-taVNS. The taVNS showed a significantly lower skin conductance level than the shamtaVNS (p < 0.05). The increase rate of postprandial blood glucose was significantly lower in the taVNS than in the sham-taVNS (p < 0.05). These results showed that taVNS reduced the activity of the sympathetic nerve system and alleviated early rise in postprandial blood glucose. Although further studies in diabetic patients are needed, this study suggest that taVNS has a potential for clinical use to improve postprandial blood glucose.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.227-246
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• 2022

This study was conducted on the nutritional status of 1,805 patients with allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma) aged 19 to 64 years according to their state of depression, based on the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to diagnose depression. Subjects with a score of 10 or more were categorized into the depression group (n=152) and the rest into the non-depression group (n=1,653). The results of this study were as follows: The proportion of women (75.7%) was higher than that of men (24.3%) in the depressed group (P<0.01). In terms of energy intake per 1,000 kcal, both men and women in the depressed group showed a lower energy intake than the non-depressed group and this intake was less than the estimated energy requirement (EER). The nutrient intakes of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and vitamin C were below the estimated average requirement (EAR). Also, the intakes of fiber and potassium were less than the adequate intake (AI) (P<0.001). In the lifestyle parameters, the ratio of eating alone at lunch was 54.1%:33.1%, indicating that more than half of the depression group ate alone. In conclusion, it was observed that the nutritional status of allergic disease patients was imbalanced. The nutritional imbalance was due to insufficient energy intake and inadequate intake of nutrients, which was below the average requirements of vitamins and minerals and this was more evident in the depression group than in the non-depression group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.577-588
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Poorly regulated inflammation is believed to be the most predominant factor that can result in a wide scope of diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite many studies on the effect of pear pomace in obesity-related disorders including dysregulated gut microbiota, the protective effect of pear pomace in AD is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pear pomace ethanol extract (PPE) on AD by inhibiting inflammation. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the in vivo experiment, 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was applied to NC/Nga mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. After the induction, PPE was administered daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. The clinical severity score, serum IgE levels, spleen weight, histological changes in dorsal skin, and inflammation-related proteins were measured. In the cell study, RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with PPE before stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Nitrite oxide (NO) production and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) protein expression were detected. RESULTS: Compared to the AD control (AD-C) group, IgE levels were dramatically decreased via PPE treatment. PPE significantly reduced scratching behavior, improved skin symptoms, and decreased ear thickness compared to the AD-C group. In addition, PPE inhibited the DNCB-induced expression of inducible nitrite oxide synthase (iNOS), the receptor for advanced glycation end products, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and NF-𝛋B. PPE inhibited the LPS-induced overproduction of NO and the enhanced expression of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and NF-𝛋B in RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by PPE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PPE could be explored as a therapeutic agent to prevent AD.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.331-347
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• 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of major skin inflammatory diseases characterized by excessive Th2-mediated immune responses. Recent evidence provides that interlukin-13 (IL-13) plays the role of a key Th2 cytokine that drives the inflammation underlining AD. Due to adverse effects of commercially available synthetic drugs, the need for treatments based on natural products is gaining much attention. Sargassum horneri is an edible brown algae known for beneficial bioactivities including anti-inflammation. We investigated if polyphenol-rich S. horneri extracts (SHE) could suppress AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and if that involved inhibition of the infiltration of Th2-mediated cytokine IL-13. We observed markedly increased infiltration of IL-13 positive cells in AD-like skin lesions of mice but SHE treatments decreased it. Also, the dermal expression of IL-13 was sufficient to cause inflammatory responses in mice skin resembling human AD. SHE suppressed the dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells where IL-13 plays a crucial role in skin tissues and in the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, it was confirmed that SHE reduced T cell, dendritic cell, and macrophage populations in spleen. Moreover, SHE decreased the collagen deposition in skin and ear dermis resulting in reduced fibrosis that occurs in AD due to excessive collagen. Taken together, our results reveal that SHE suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into skin dermis by decreasing the infiltration of IL-13 positive cells. Therefore, SHE could be taken as a useful therapeutic agent to alleviate AD.