• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2016

Objectives: This study compared the nutritional status of child-bearing age women between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Methods: The data presented in the DPRK Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012 was utilized for the nutritional status and food intake of North Korean women. To produce the South Korean women's data comparable to those of North Korean women, the data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed and the data presented in the 2010 Report of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards were utilized. Results: The prevalence of maternal anemia (blood hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL) was over 30% in all the age groups of North Korean women and 8.9%, 14.2%, 16.4% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old South Korean women, respectively. The prevalence of maternal protein-energy malnutrition (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference < 22.5 cm) was 25.2%, 21.4%, 21.8% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old North Korean women, respectively and less than 10% in all the age groups of South Korean women. Result of dietary diversity comparison showed that North Korean women consumed less food than South Korean women at all food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. Percentage of North Korean women having consumed protein rich foods-meat and fish, eggs or dairy products-were much lower than those of South Korean women. Conclusions: The striking disparity of nutritional status between South and North Korean women indicates that nutrition support for North Korean women is essential in the process of preparation for a unified nation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2011

Aeromonas salmonicida is an important fish pathogen commonly associated with furunculosis in salmonids. Typical A. salmonicida strains have the surface virulence A-layer protein, a major virulence determinant encoded by the vapA gene. In this study, 880 chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta were collected from the east coast of Korea during 2006-2011, including 560 wild adults and 320 artificially hatched fry pools, and the presence of typical A. salmonicida was examined by PCR using the typical A. salmonicida-specific vapA gene primers. The results demonstrated that 34.5% of the samples (304/880 samples) were PCR positive, implying that a typical A. salmonicida infection is highly prevalent among chum salmon in Korea. Twenty typical A. salmonicida isolates were recovered based on their brown pigmentation on Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) plates, which indicates the existence of the A-layer protein. Further biochemical analyses with the four randomly selected typical A. salmonicida isolates revealed some variations in their amino acid decarboxylation and carbohydrate fermentation activity. A phylogenetic analysis based on the entire vapA gene sequence suggested that the A. salmonicida isolates from chum salmon were clustered with those isolated from Atlantic salmon in Europe. Further study is needed to resolve such an interesting relationship in detail.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.524-529
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• 2017

This study was aimed to produce a transgenic zebrafish expressing the human KCNE1 gene. Initially, the entire CDS of the human KCNE1 gene was amplified from a human genomic DNA sample by polymerase chain reaction using a primer set engineered with restriction enzyme sites (EcoRI, BamHI) at the 5' end of each primer. The resultant 402 bp KCNE1 amplicon flanked by EcoR1 and BamH1 was obtained and subsequently cloned into a plasmid vector pPB-CMVp-EF1-GreenPuro. The integrity of the cloned CDS sequence was confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. Next, the recombinant vector containing the human KCNE1 (pPB-CMVp-hKCNE1-EF1-GreenPuro) was introduced into fertilized eggs of zebrafish by microinjection. Successful expression of the recombinant vector in the eggs was confirmed by the expression of the fluorescence protein encoded in the vector. Finally, in order to assure that the stable expression of the human KCNE1 gene occurred in the transgenic animal, RNAs were extracted from the animal and the presence of KCNE1 transcripts was confirmed by RT-PCT as well as DNA sequencing analysis. The study provides a methodology to construct a useful transgenic animal model applicable to the development of diagnostic technologies for gene therapy of LQTS (Long QT Syndrome) as well as tools for cloning of useful genes in fish.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary problems of obese elementary students consuming unbalanced diets. Blood parameters, body-image perceptions, taste preferences, and nutrient intakes of 40 obese elementary students with unbalanced diets were compared to those of 40 additional obese elementary students as a control. The averages for age, height, weight, and obesity index were 11.5 years, 142.0 cm, 51.0 kg, and 35.4% in the study group and 11.8 years, 144.0 cm, 53.5 kg, and 36.3% in the control group, respectively. The major disliked foods by the students in the study group were vegetables (65%) particularly Kimchi (15%), as well as fish(15%), and pulses (10%). Mean serum cholesterol, blood glucose, GOT/GPT, and hemoglobin levels were 175.1 mg/dL, 89.2 mg/dL, 24.1/18.9 IU/L, and 14.3 g/dL in the study group and 182.8 mg/dL, 91.3 mg/dL, 28.3/33.9 IU/L, and 14.7 g/dL, in the control group, respectively. Approximately 60${\sim}$80% of the subjects responded that they eat a meal everyday, and the remainder skipped at least one meal. The preference for salty tasting foods was significantly lower in the study group, but the preference for hot tasting food was higher as compared to the obese control group(p<0.05, p<0.05). The daily energy intakes of the study and control groups were 1,768.3 kcal and 1,572.7 kcal, respectively, but there was no significant differences between them. Daily intakes of animal protein, fat, animal fat, and vitamin $B_2$ were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. In conclusion, this study found that obese children consuming unbalanced diets strongly disliked vegetables, particularly Kimchi, as well as hot tasting foods; however, they preferred salty foods. Daily intakes of animal protein and fat were higher in the study group as compared to obese children not consuming unbalanced diets.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2018

Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is induced by various inflammatory agents, such as lipopolysaccharide and microbial pathogens, including virus and bacteria. In this study, we obtained a full-length cDNA of a STING homolog from olive flounder using rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR technique. The full-length cDNA of Paralichthys olivaceus STING (PoSTING) was 1442 bp in length and contained a 1209-bp open reading frame that translated into 402 amino acids. The theoretical molecular mass of the predicted protein sequence was 45.09 kDa. In the PoSTING protein, three transmembrane domains and the STING superfamily domain were identified as characteristic features. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that PoSTING expressed in all the tissues analyzed, but showed the highest level in the spleen. Temporal expression analysis examined the significantly upregulated expression of PoSTING mRNA after viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) stimulation. In contrast, no significant changes in the PoSTING expression were detected in Edwardsiella tarda-challenged group compared to the un-injected control. The expression of P. olivaceus type I interferon (PoIFN-I) was also highly upregulated upon VHSV challenge. These results suggest that STING might be involved in the essential immune defense against viral infection together with the activation of IFN-I in olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2001

This research was conducted to study the characteristics of the extruded products prepared from blends containing fixed amounts of frozen pollack (20%) and defatted soy flour (5%) and varying amounts of rice and corn flour using laboratory-scale single-screw extruder. Extrusion conditions were set at 27% feed moisture, $160^{\circ}C$ process temperature and 170 rpm screw speed. Results showed that there was almost no difference in proximate compositions among all extruded products. The product made from 100% rice flour had the highest expansion ratio, the lowest bulk density and the lowest shear force (P<0.05). Also, this product was the highest in L value and had the highest preference in sensory evaluation. Consequently, the addition of frozen pollack and defatted soy flour to rice flour could make desirable expanded extruded products. This study will form the basis for future development of rice snacks containing frozen pollack.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2008

Hwangtae, dried Alaska pollack, is a major storage product in the fish processing industry. Hwangtae is prepared by removing the internal organs and drying outdoors during the cold witner months by allowing it to thaw during the daytime and re-freeze at night under sub-zero ($-10^{\circ}C$) conditions and gradually dry from December until the next April for around 5 months from Myungtae. In this study, ground Hwangtae was hydrolyzed using two proteolytic enzymes (pepsin and alcalase) which produced five soluble active peptides from Hwangtae (yellowish dried Pollack, Theragra chalcogramma) protein. Two different peptides with strong antioxidative activity were isolated from the hydrolysate using consecutive chromatographic methods of Sephadex G-25 gel, ion-exchange chromatography on a Sepharose-Sephadex C-25 gel, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The isolated peptides, APO1 and APO2, were composed of 16 and 13 amino acid residues, respectively. Both peptides contained a Gly residue at the C-terminus and the repeating motif Gly-Pro-Hyp. The peptide with a molecular weight less than 1,000 Daltons (APACE) obtained from enzymatic hydrolysates of Hwangtae exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity. The APACE peptides was composed of 4 amino acid residues (Gly-Leu-Leu-Pro). These results suggest that Hwangtae hydrolysates could be a good source of peptides with ACE inhibitory activity. Biochemical analysis indicated that two 70 kDa peptides (APG1 and APG2) isolated from the hydrolysate had gelatinoytic activity, which was shown to be a calcium dependent protease type as showed by gelatin SDS PAGE.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.254-258
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• 2006

Vitellogenin has been known as a potent biomarker protein for the estrogenic activity in fish exposed to endocrine disruptors. In this study, a piezoelectric immunosensor making use of an anticarp vitellogenin antibody and an AT-cut quartz crystal microbalance as the biological component and transducer was prepared, followed by its application to the analysis of carp vitellogenin as follows. Antibody immobilization was conducted by chemisorption of a thiolated antibody with a heterobifunctional thiolation cross-linker, sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionamido]hexanoate. The reaction buffer for the immunosensor system was optimized as 0.1 M sodium phosphate (pH 7.4). Concentration-dependent sensor responses were obtained in the vitellogenin concentrations ranging from 0.4864 to 486.4000 nM, with a linear correlation between vitellogenin concentration and frequency shift in double-logarithmic scale. The limit of detection of the immunosensor for carp vitellogenin was presumed as 0.4864 nM.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1225-1235
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• 2018

Hypoxia seriously affects the innate immune system of fish. However, the roles of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), pivotal anti-inflammatory genes, in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation remain largely unexplored. The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the function of SOCS genes under acute hypoxia and reoxygenation in pufferfish (Takifugu fasciatus). In the present study, SOCS1, 2 and 3 were identified in T. fasciatus referred to as TfSOCS1, 2 and 3. Then, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were employed to assess their expressions at both the mRNA and protein levels. Tissue distribution demonstrated that the three SOCS genes were predominantly distributed in gill, brain and liver. Under hypoxia challenge ($1.63{\pm}0.2mg/L$ DO for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h), the expressions of TfSOCS1 and 3 in brain and liver at the mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased, while their expressions showed an opposite trend in gill. Different from the expressions of TfSOCS1 and 3, the expression of TfSOCS2 was inhibited in gill, along with its increased expression in brain and liver. After normoxic recovery ($7.0{\pm}0.3mg/L$ of DO for 4 and 12 h), most of TfSOCS genes were significantly altered at R4 (reoxygenation for 4 h) and returned to the normal level at R12 (reoxygenation for 12 h). SOCS genes played vital roles in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation challenge. Our findings greatly strengthened the relation between innate immune and hypoxia stress in T. fasciatus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.270-282
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• 2023

We performed a study to examine the association between diet quality and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our study included 3,586 women aged 40-64 years who participated in the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects were classified into the NAFLD group (n=816) and the normal group (n=2,770) using the hepatic steatosis index. The anthropometric indices, blood profiles, and dietary intake data of the subjects were obtained. The waist circumference, body mass index, and the serum levels of triglycerides, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in the NAFLD compared to the normal groups (p<0.001, respectively). The intakes of protein (g/kg body weight, p<0.001), potassium (p<0.001), and vitamin A (p=0.006) were significantly lower in the NAFLD group. It was observed that the higher the total Korean Healthy Eating Index score, the lower the risk of NAFLD. A reverse relationship was shown between the NAFLD risk and the intakes of total fruits, total vegetables, vegetables excluding Kimchi and pickled vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and beans. Therefore, it is recommended that middle-aged women in Korea increase their intakes of fruits, vegetables, and foods high in protein for the proper management of NAFLD.