• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

[Purpose] The goal of this study was to review data on physical activity level (PAL), a crucial index for determining estimated energy requirement (EER), calculated as total energy expenditure (TEE, assessed with doubly labeled water [DLW]) divided by resting metabolic rate (RMR, PAL = TEE/RMR) in female athletes and to understand the methods of assessing athletes' EERs in the field. [Methods] For the PAL data review among female athletes, we conducted a PubMed search of the available literature related to the DLW method. DLW studies measuring TEE and RMR were included for the present review. [Results] Briefly, the mean PAL was 1.71 for collegiate swimmers with moderate training, which was relatively low, but the mean PAL was 3.0 for elite swimmers during summer training camp. This shows that PAL can largely vary even within the same sport depending on the amount of training, and the differences in PAL were remarkable depending on the sport. Aside from the DLW method, there is currently no research tool related to athletes' EERs that can be used in the field. [Conclusion] Briefly, the mean PAL was 1.71 for collegiate swimmers with moderate training, which was relatively low, but the mean PAL was 3.0 for elite swimmers during summer training camp. This shows that PAL can largely vary even within the same sport depending on the amount of training, and the differences in PAL were remarkable depending on the sport. Aside from the DLW method, there is currently no research tool related to athletes' EERs that can be used in the field.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.870-882
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, a global public health problem. Mentha canadensis (MA), a traditional phytomedicine and dietary herb used for centuries, was the focus of this study to investigate its effects on obesity. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed either a normal diet (ND, n = 10) or a high-fat diet (HFD, n = 25) for 4 weeks to induce obesity. After the obesity induction period, the HFD-fed mice were randomly separated into 2 groups: one group continued to be fed HFD (n = 15, HFD group), while the other group was fed HFD with 1.5% (w/w) MA ethanol extract (n = 10, MA group) for 13 weeks. RESULTS: The results showed that body and white adipose tissue (WAT) weights were significantly decreased in the MA-supplemented group compared to the HFD group. Additionally, MA supplementation enhanced energy expenditure, leading to improvements in plasma lipids, cytokines, hepatic steatosis, and fecal lipids. Furthermore, MA supplementation regulated lipid-metabolism-related enzyme activity and gene expression, thereby suppressing lipid accumulation in the WAT and liver. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that MA has the potential to improve diet-induced obesity and its associated complications, including adiposity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2024

This research investigates the influence of chair tilt functionality on biometric signals and user comfort, addressing the ergonomic challenges posed by modern sedentary lifestyles. Through an experimental study involving eight male participants, the impact of chair tilt on electromyography (EMG), heart rate, metabolic rate, pressure distribution, and distance between the lumbar spine and the lumbar support part of the chair was measured across different seating postures. The study utilized chairs with both synchronous and non-synchronous tilt mechanisms to explore how adjustments in chair design affect user comfort and physiological responses during prolonged sitting. Key findings suggest that chair tilt functionality can significantly reduce muscle activity and energy expenditure, enhancing user comfort and potentially mitigating health risks associated with prolonged sedentary behavior. Notably, the study revealed a preference among participants for chairs that aligned the rotational center of the tilt with the hip joint, highlighting the importance of this ergonomic feature in enhancing user comfort. Additionally, the research proposes a novel methodology for assessing seating comfort through the analysis of both biometric and physical signals, providing valuable insights for the development of ergonomic chair designs focused on user health and comfort.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.306-315
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• 2021

Purpose: Obesity is defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat over acceptable limits. Leptin is a metabolic hormone present in the circulation in amounts proportional to fat mass. Leptin reduces food intake and increases energy expenditure, thus regulating body weight and homeostasis. Various polymorphisms are present in the leptin gene and its receptor. These polymorphisms may be associated with obesity. This study aimed to show the association of leptin (+19) AG, leptin (2548) GA, and Gln223Arg leptin receptor polymorphisms with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Turkish children aged 6-17 years, and to conduct further investigations regarding the genetic etiology of obesity. Methods: A total of 174 patients diagnosed with obesity and 150 healthy children who were treated at Tokat Gaziosmanpasa Medical School Hospital between September 2014 and March 2015 were included in this study. The ages of the children were between 6 and 17 years, and anthropometric and laboratory results were recorded. Genotyping of leptin (+19) AG, leptin (2548) GA, and leptin receptor Gln223Arg polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Results: An association between leptin receptor Gln223Arg gene polymorphism and obesity was detected. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to determine the role of genetic etiologies and to indicate the role of leptin signal transmission impairment in the pathogenesis of obesity. We hope that gene therapy can soon provide a solution for obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.178-189
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• 2016

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess body composition, physical activity level (PAL), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and daily energy expenditure (DEE) and to examine associations between PAL and body composition, BMR, and DEE of elderly in Busan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 elderly aged 65-93 years. Body composition was measured by Inbody 720. PAL was calculated by daily activity diary. BMR was calculated by Harris-Benedict (H-B) formula, Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) formula, and Inbody 720 measurement. DEE was calculated by H-B formula, DRI formula, Inbody 720 measurement, and estimated energy requirements (EER) formula. Results: The mean fat free mass (FFM) in elderly men was significantly higher than that in elderly women (p<0.001). The mean percent body fat and fat mass (FM) in elderly women were significantly greater than those in elderly men (p<0.001, p<0.001). The mean PAL in elderly men (1.59) was significantly higher than that in elderly women (1.53) (p<0.001). The mean DEEs calculated by 3 methods except for H-B formula in elderly men were higher than EER for elderly men (2000kcal). The mean DEEs calculated by 4 different methods in elderly women were higher than EER for elderly women (1600kcal). Age showed significantly negative correlations with height (p<0.001, p<0.001), FFM (p<0.001, p<0.001), BMRs calculated by H-B formula (p<0.001, p<0.001), DRI formula (p<0.001, p<0.001) and Inbody 720 measurement (p<0.05 p<0.01) and DEEs calculated by H-B formula (p<0.001, p<0.001), DRI formula (p<0.001, p<0.001), Inbody 720 measurement (p<0.05, p<0.05), and EER formula (p<0.001, p<0.001) in elderly men and elderly women. PAL showed significantly positive correlations with FFM (p<0.05), BMR by Inbody 720 measurement (p<0.05) in elderly men and negative correlations with FM (p<0.05) in elderly women. Conclusions: Based on the results, PAL was associated with greater FFM in elderly men and lesser FM in elderly women. Therefore, nutritional education to increase physical activity for health promotion in late life is needed in the elderly.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.8-16
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• 2005

Leptin, the product of the ob gene, is primarily produced and released from adipocytes and acts on the hypothalamus to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure. Defect in leptin or leptin receptors results in severe metabolic syndromes such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension Evidence suggests that leptin plays beyond a satiety factor; in fact, it is a pluripotent player In regulation of numerous body functions. Although its actions have been relatively well studied in mammals scanty data are available in birds. In this article, recent advances in understanding of the roles of leptin in chicken physiology are reviewed with the focus on the effects on food intake, lipid metabolism, development and reproduction, and stress.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.89-99
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were: 1) to show the item difficulty hierarchy of walking/moving construct of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Activity Measure (ICF-AM), 2) to evaluate the item-level psychometrics for model fit, 3) to describe the relevant physical activity defined by level of activity intensity expressed as Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (MET), and 4) to explore what extent the empirical activity hierarchy of the ICF-AM is linked to the conceptual model based on the level of energy expenditure described as MET. One hundred and eight participants with lower extremity impairments were examined for the present study. A newly created activity measure, the ICF-AM using an item response theory (IRT) model and computer adaptive testing (CAT) method, has a construct on walking/moving construct. Based on the ICF category of walking and moving, the instrument comprised items corresponding to: walking short distances, walking long distances, walking on different surfaces, walking around objects, climbing, and running. The item difficulty hierarchy was created using Winstep software for 20 items. The Rasch analyses (1-parameter IRT model) were performed on participants with lower extremity injuries who completed the paper and pencil version of walking/moving construct of the ICF-AM. The classification of physical activity can also be performed by the use of METs that is often preferred to determine the level of physical activity. The empirical item hierarchy of walking, climbing, running activities of the ICF-AM instrument was similar to the conceptual activity hierarchy based on the METs. The empirically derived item difficulty hierarchy of the ICF-AM may be useful in developing MET-based activity measure questionnaires. In addition to convenience of applying items to questionnaires, implications of the finding could lead to the use of CAT method without sacrificing the objectivity of physiologic measures.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.293-298
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• 2022

Antipsychotics have been widely accepted as a treatment of choice for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. While atypical antipsychotics such as aripiprazole are not associated with obesity and diabetes, olanzapine is still widely used based on the anticipation that it is more effective in treating severe schizophrenia than aripiprazole, despite its metabolic side effects. To address metabolic problems, metformin is widely prescribed. Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons have been identified as the main regulator of metabolism and energy expenditure. Although the relation between POMC neurons and metabolic disorders is well established, little is known about the effects of olanzapine and metformin on hypothalamic POMC neurons. In the present study, we investigated the effect of olanzapine and metformin on the hypothalamic POMC neurons in female mice. Olanzapine administration for 5 days significantly decreased Pomc mRNA expression, POMC neuron numbers, POMC projections, and induced leptin resistance before the onset of obesity. It was also observed that coadministration of metformin with olanzapine not only increased POMC neuron numbers and projections but also improved the leptin response of POMC neurons in the olanzapine-treated female mice. These findings suggest that olanzapine-induced hypothalamic POMC neuron abnormality and leptin resistance, which can be ameliorated by metformin administration, are the possible causes of subsequent hyperphagia.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.133-142
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• 2015

This study aimed to identify the exercise intensity associated with four common physical activities for adults (running, skipping rope, walking, and muscle strength exercises) and two horticultural activities (creating a vegetable bed and garden maintenance). For this experiment, 19 males (mean age: $25.8{\pm}2.3$ years) randomly participated in the activities at a glasshouse at Konkuk University. Each of the six activities lasted for 5 minutes; the subjects rested for 5 minutes during intervals between the activities. A portable metabolic analyzer was used to store the oxygen and energy consumption values obtained upon measurement of each activity. In addition, a wireless heart rate monitor was used to measure the subjects' heart rate. According to the results, the four types of physical activities and two horticultural activities carried out by the subjects are moderate- to high-intensity activities [i.e., $3.8{\pm}0.9$ to $9.9{\pm}2.1$ metabolic equivalents (METs)]. Running ($9.9{\pm}2.1$ METs) and skipping rope ($8.8{\pm}2.2$ METs) were categorized as high-intensity physical activities, whereas creating a vegetable bed ($5.0{\pm}1.2$ METs), walking ($4.9{\pm}0.8$ METs), muscle strength exercises ($4.5{\pm}1.3$ METs), and garden maintenance ($3.8{\pm}0.9$ METs) were classified as moderate-intensity physical activities. The exercise intensities of horticultural activities in this study were similar to those of walking and muscle strength exercises. Therefore, participating in these horticultural activities is expected to garner health benefits similar to those reaped from the physical activities described in the current study.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.660-666
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• 2023

This study aimed to examine the effect of external pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) attachment and water temperature on the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of the olive flounder (mean body weight 2281.7 g). The OCRs of fish were measured under conditions of three different water temperature conditions (15, 20, and 25℃) and two different tagging methods [non-tagging, control; bio-logger external attachment with a miniature PSAT (dummy mrPAT), BEA] using a closed flow-through respirometer. The OCRs of fish linearly increased with the increase in water temperature in both the control and BEA (P<0.001); however, the OCRs of BEA were approximately 1.8-1.9 times lower than those of the control at each water temperature (P<0.001). The Q₁₀ values of the control and BEA were the highest in the water temperature range of 15 to 20℃, but sensitivity to water temperature changes was higher in BEA than in the control. The metabolic energy loss rate (MEL) of fish increased with increasing water temperature regardless of external tagging, but the MEL of the control was higher than that of BEA (P<0.001). These results demonstrate that OCR, thermal sensitivity, and energy expenditure are all affected in adult olive flounder with external PSAT attachment.