• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the validity of phase angle as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with metastatic cancer. Methods: Data of patients with metastatic cancer who visited the Korean medicine cancer center at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Gangdong from April 2016 to February 2018 were collected for this study. The values of phase angle (PhA) and blood hemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum albumin levels were also investigated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: In total, 86 patients were analyzed. The cut-off value of the phase angle was determined as 5.0. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that phase angle (HR 3.15, 95% CI 1.79-5.54) and CRP (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.24-3.73) predicted survival with statistical significance. The median overall survival of the low PhA group ($PhA{\leq}5.0$) was 1.8 months (95% CI 0.6-2.9 months) and 7.2 months (95% CI 5.2-9.2 months) in the high PhA group (PhA>5.0)(p<0.001). Conclusions: The phase angle could be an independent prognostic factor for patients with metastatic cancer. Further research is required to confirm these findings and their correlation with other indexes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1497-1501
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• 2006

The therapeutic anti-diabetic effect of Nelumbo Folium and a poly herbal formula (NOC) was evaluated in the streptozotocin (STZ 60 mg/kg, I.p.) induced diabetic rats. For this study, test articles were orally administrated once a day from 7 d after STZ-injection for 3 weeks. The fasting blood glucose, body weight, pancreas weight changes, oral glucose tolerance test, hemoglobin Alc (Hb A1c) level changes and the histopathological changes were observed. WNL-treated rat had lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to control group and NOC-treated rat had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels, compared to control group (p < 0.05). After 21 days of extract treatment, body weight in control was reduced (p < 0.001). WNL and NOC groups were also reduced compared to control group but insignificantly. Pancreas weight of control group was reduced (p < 0.001), but the weight of NOC group were increased (P< 0.05). During the 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), WNL group were improved compared to control group (P < 0.05). NOC group were improved compared to control group but insignificantly. WNL and NOC groups had lower Hb Alc level compared to control group. In addition, atrophy of islet and decrease of insulin-producing cells were detected in STZ induced diabetes rats. However, these diabetic changes were decreased in WNL and NOC groups. These results suggest that N. Folium and NOC have favorable effects to inhibit the changes on the fasting blood glucose levels, pancreas weight, glucose tolerance, hemoglobin Alc and the histopathological changes of pancreas in STZ-induced diabetes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of plums produced in Gimcheon area on the glucose and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley diabetic rats were divided into four groups: control, diabetic control, Diabetes-low plum (containing 10% plum powder), and Diabetes-high plum (containing 20% plum powder). The animals were fed isocaloric experimental diets based on an AIN-76 diet for 6 weeks. Feed efficiency ratio (FER) of the diabetic groups were significantly lower than that of the control. On the other hand, among the diabetic groups, the FER of the high plum intake group was higher than that of the diabetic control. The liver weight per 100 g body weight of each group was similar but the liver weights tended to decrease as the amount of plum intake was increased. Kidney weight per 100 g body weight of the plum intake groups were significantly different compared to that of the diabetic control. The supplementation of plums lowered the fasting blood glucose level of the diabetic groups and improved the glucose tolerance, thereby lowering the glycosylated hemoglobin index. In addition, the supplementation of plum was lowered the blood total cholesterol concentration and increased the HDL-C/TC (%) significantly, thereby lowering the atherosclerotic index (AI) and hepatic peroxide level. A steady diet of plums produced in Gimcheon may be effective in controlling the blood glucose level and preventing chronic diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.570-579
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• 2019

Diabetes is one of the serious chronic metabolic diseases caused by Westernized eating habits, and the goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose at a normal level and prevent diabetic complications. This study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of a mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) extract (MWE) on hyperglycemia in an animal model with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into three groups: diabetic control, rosiglitazone, and MWE. The mice supplemented with MWE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin when compared with the diabetic control mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with MWE than in diabetic control mice. MWE supplementation significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and Akt, and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in insulin signaling pathway of skeletal muscles. Eventually, MWE increased the expression of the plasma membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) via PI3K/Akt activation. These findings demonstrate that the increase in plasma membrane GLUT4 expression by MWE promoted the uptake of blood glucose into cells and relieved hyperglycemia in skeletal muscles of diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice. Therefore, mealworms are expected to prove useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes, and further studies are needed to improve type 2 diabetes in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4963-4965
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• 2012

Objective: To diagnose renal cell carcinoma at early stages and for better prognosis, the main objective of our current study was to understand any association with diabetes with relation to age, gender, history of disease, diabetic laboratory parameters, tumor size and grade. Materials and Methods: This hospital based study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences between $1^{st}$ December, 2011 and $31^{st}$ May, 2012. The variables collected were age, gender, HbA1c, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose. One way ANOVA was applied to examine statistical significance of differences between groups. The LSD post hoc test was used for the comparison of means of case groups. Results: Of the total 140 cases of renal cell carcinoma, 79 patients were also suffering from diabetes mellitus. The number of females (47) was more in diabetic RCC patients when compared to males (32). Significance was observed in levels of serum creatinine for tumor size >10cm ($0.0001^*$). The highest value of glycated hemoglobin (8.9%) and fasting blood sugar(148.3mg/dl)in cases of renal cell carcinoma along with diabetes mellitus was found in tumour size of 1-5cm. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus has independent prognostic significance in RCC in relation to tumour size and grade.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2013

The anti-diabetic effect of green tea fermented by cheonggukjang was evaluated using KK-$A^y$ mice, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Over a 90 day testing period, food and water intake decreased significantly in the group fed fermented green tea (FGT) and a group fed commercially available health functional food (PC), when compared with a diabetic control group (DC). The blood glucose levels of FGT mice were lower than in DC mice throughout the test period and were similar to the levels in PC after 60 days. Levels of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and insulin resistance were lower in mice of the FGT group than in mice of the DC group. DNA microarray analysis showed that administration of FGT increased the abundance of 12 mRNA transcripts related to diabetes. Whereas FGT increased hexokinase transcripts related to glycolysis more than 37 fold, levels of Pdx1 (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox1) and Cacna1e (calcium channel) transcripts increased more than 1.8 fold.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.213-224
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• 2021

Experiments were performed to investigate changes in metabolic rate (MO₂), critical oxygen saturation (S_crit) and hematological parameters of black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli exposed to hypoxia at 15, 20 and 25℃. The MO₂ was measured at an interval of 10 min using intermittent-flow respirometry. The normoxic standard metabolic rate (SMR) was 116.5±5.5, 188.6±4.2 and 237.4±6.8 mg O₂/kg/hr, and S_crit was 22.1±1.2, 30.6±1.5 and 41.9±1.4% air saturation at 15, 20 and 25℃, respectively. Q₁₀ values were 2.62 between 15 and 20℃, 1.58 between 20 and 25℃, and 2.04 over the full temperature range. In the investigation of blood (hematocrit and hemoglobin) and biochemical parameters (plasma cortisol, glucose, electrolyte and osmolality), the rockfish were subjected to S_crit for each temperature during 4 hr. All of hematological parameters of the rockfish exposed to hypoxic water were significantly higher than those of normoxic control. Moreover, blood and biochemical parameters of the rockfish maintained to normoxic water showed the tendency of increase with temperature, and were significantly higher at 25C. As a result of this experiment, it was found that physiological stress due to hypoxia increased at high temperature.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2001

The effects of sudden changes of water temperature (WT) on the stress response and physiological change of the cultured olive flounder in large (FL) and small (FS) size, and fat cod (FC) were examined by manipulating WT (2 types) in a flow through seawater culture system with 6 tanks (water vol. 270 L/tank). The WT was decreased from $20^{\circ}C$ to $10^{\circ}C$ within 5 hours ($2^{\circ}C/hour$) and maintained at $10^{\circ}C$ for 21 hours (Exp. I), and it was raised from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$ within 5 hours and maintained at $30^{\circ}C$ for 21 hours (Exp.II). In Exp. I, the levels of blood hematocrit at 5 hours ($10^{\circ}C$) in FS was significantly decreased from $13.5\pm2.0\%\;to\;11.3\pm2.3\%$, but FC at 2.5 hours ($15^{\circ}C$) ($19.0\pm0.3\%\;to\;23.2\pm3.8\%$) was increased, The blood hemoglobin concentration of all fish in Exp, II was significantly increased until 8 hours after raising WT from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$. In Exp. I and II , the levels of plasma cortisol in FL, FS and FC was changed from $5.2\pm8.5ng/mL,\;4.4\pm4.5ng/mL\;and\;2.7\pm0.4ng/mL$, respectively, before sudden drop and rise of WT. The levels of plasma cortisol of in FL ($164.0\pm53.1ng/mL$) and FC ($207.9\pm25.4ng/mL$) were significantly increased by the lowering WT sharply during whole experiment. The FL ($12.6\pm2.0ng/mL$) and FS ($4.0\pm3.9ng/mL$) showed no significant differences in cortisol level according to sudden rise of WT (5 hours). But it in FC ($44.7\pm18.2ng/mL$) was increased. In Exp. I, the plasma glucose levels of all fish groups were decreased after 5 hours ($10^{\circ}C$), The plasma lactic acid concentration of FL and FS showed no significant differences until 5 hours after raising WT from $20^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, But it in FC was significantly increased with WT raise.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5097-5099
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• 2012

Objective: To assess associations of Type II DM with hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in Nepal. Materials and Methods: This case control study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences between 1st January, 2012, and 31st August, 2012. The variables collected were age, gender, HbA1c. All biochemical parameters were analyzed in the Central Laboratory of our hospital by standard validated methods. One way ANOVA was used to examine the statistical significant difference between groups with the LSD post-hoc test for comparison of means of case groups. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using simple logistic-regression analysis. Results: Etiological factors for HCC were HBV, HCV, alcohol and cryptogenic cirrhosis. The highest age group belonged to the etiological category of HCV with a mean of $71.9{\pm}3.6$ (CI 69.3, 74.5) years and the lowest age group to the etiological category of HBV with $61.7{\pm}5.3$(CI 57.9, 65.5) years. The main imperative basis of HCC in present study was HCV (39.5%) and second most significant cause of HCC was alcohol (26%). Glycated hemoglobin was found to be more in males with HCC (7.9%) as compared to females (7.3%). The percentage of Type II diabetes mellitus was greater in HCC patients when compared to controls. This difference was statistically significant with an odd ratio of 4.63 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Type II DM influences incidence, risk of recurrence, overall survival, and treatment-related complications in HCC patients.