• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2016

Here in this study, we investigated the lifespan-extending effect and underlying mechanism of methanolic extract of Moringa olelifa leaves (MML) using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model system. To define the longevity properties of MML we conducted lifespan assay and MML showed significant increase in lifespan under normal culture condition. In addition, MML elevated stress tolerance of C. elegans to endure against thermal, oxidative and osmotic stress conditions. Our data also revealed that increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and expressions of stress resistance proteins were attributed to MML-mediated enhanced stress resistance. We further investigated the involvement of MML on the aging-related factors such as growth, food intake, fertility, and motility. Interestingly, MML significantly reduced growth and egg-laying, suggesting these factors were closely linked with MML-mediated longevity. We also observed the movement of aged worms to estimate the effects of MML on the health span. Herein, MML efficiently elevated motility of aged worms, indicating MML may affect health span as well as lifespan. Our genetic analysis using knockout mutants showed that lifespan-extension activity of MML was interconnected with several genes such as skn-1, sir-2.1, daf-2, age-1 and daf-16. Based on these results, we could conclude that MML prolongs the lifespan of worms via activation of SKN-1 and SIR-2.1 and inhibition of insulin/IGF pathway, followed by DAF-16 activation.

• Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2014

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and adolescents in the last decade. Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. There is no single or simple solution to the childhood obesity epidemic, but to learn that obesity is closely related to lifestyle factors including poor fitness and physical inactivity as well as prolonged sitting time in conjunction with westernized dietary habits. In addition to a healthy and balanced diet, promotion of physical activity combined with carefully supervised resistance exercise training, and reduced screen time is a primary recommendation for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children and adolescents. This review provides evidence based data to support this multiple-step physical activity strategy as the most effective and preventive means against childhood obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.322-332
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• 2004

The possibility that high, long-term intake of carbohydrates that are rapidly absorbed as glucose may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes has been long-standing controversy. A high consumption of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index produces greater insulin resistance than did the intake of low glycemic index carbohydrates. This study was designed to evaluate the cabohydrate intake status include glycemic index and correlation carbohydrtae intake status with anthropometry factors & other nutrients in usual diet of the Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus. In 104 tpye 2 diabetes mellitus patients(mean age : 51.8yr, male=44.femal=60), we determined carbohydrte intake status include glycemic index with 24hr recall method and measured anthropometry. Mean daily carbohydrtae intakes and glycemic index were 307.3g(male 323.1g, female 295.5g) and 90.7(male 93.4, female 88.8), respectively. We found a strong and statistically significant association between carbohydrate ratio and glycemic index in obese factors, other nutrient. But carbohydrate intake/kg of body weight was low a significant differences in obese factors, other nutrient. Also glycemic index was effected by total energy intake and carbohydrate ratio than carbohydrate intake/kg of body weight. In conclusion, emphasis for dietary modification should be total energy intake and carbohydrate ratio in diabetes mellitus patient.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.601-609
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• 2017

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a major role in cell growth, proliferation, polarity, differentiation, development, and controls transitioning between anabolic and catabolic states of the cell. It collects almost all extracellular and intracellular signals from growth factors, nutrients, and maintains cellular homeostasis, and is involved in several pathological conditions including, neurodegeneration, Type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and cancer. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of upstream signaling of mTORC1 to explain etiology of T2D and hypertriglyceridemia, in which state, the role of telomere attrition is explained. We discuss if chronic inhibition of mTORC1 can reverse adverse effects resulting from hyperactivation. In conclusion, we suggest the regulatory roles of telomerase (TERT) and hexokinase II (HKII) on mTORC1 as possible remedies to treat hyperactivation. The former inhibits mTORC1 under nutrientrich while the latter under starved condition. We provide an idea of TOS (TOR signaling) motifs that can be used for regulation of mTORC1.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2006

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are widely used antidiabetic drugs that activate the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$, and thereby improve the metabolic abnormalities linking hypertriglyceridemia to diabetes, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. To determine whether the $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand troglitazone regulates lipid metabolism with sexual dimorphism, we examined the effects of troglitazone on circulating lipids, body weight and the expression of hepatic genes responsible for lipid metabolism in both sexes of C57BL/6J mice. Compared to mice fed a low fat control diet, both sexes of mice fed a troglitazone-treated low fat diet for 14 weeks did not exhibit changes in body weight gain, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. However, serum triglycerides were significantly reduced in both sexes of mice, although these effects were more pronounced among males. Furthermore, troglitazone regulated the expression of hepatic genes critical for lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, the magnitudes of which were much higher in males compared to females, as evidenced by results for increased acyl-CoA oxidase and decreased apolipoprotein C-III mRMA levels. These results suggest that $PPAR{\gamma}$ activator troglitazone may exert sexually dimorphic control of serum triglycerides in part through the differential activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ in liver between male and female mice.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.273-281
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• 2011

Our previous study demonstrated that the Korean traditional medicine Gyeongshingangjeehwan (GGEx) inhibits obesity and insulin resistance in obese type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. We investigated whether GGEx may affect AMP-activated protein kinase ${\alpha}$ ($AMPK{\alpha}$) since $AMPK{\alpha}$ activation is known to stimulate fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle of obese rodents. After OLETF rats were treated with GGEx, we studied the effects of GGEx on $AMPK{\alpha}$ and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation, and the expression of $AMPK{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\alpha}$, and $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes. The effects of GGEx on mRNA expression of the above genes were also measured in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Administration of GGEx to OLETF rats for 8 weeks increased phosphorylation of $AMPK{\alpha}$ and ACC in skeletal muscle. GGEx also elevated skeletal muscle mRNA levels of $AMPK{\alpha}1$ and $AMPK{\alpha}2$ as well as $PPAR{\alpha}$ and its target genes. Consistent with the in vivo data, similar activation of genes was observed in GGEx-treated C2C12 cells. These results suggest that GGEx stimulates skeletal muscle $AMPK{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation, leading to alleviation of obesity and related disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2011

Objectives : Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be increasing and becoming a health-related issue worldwide. This study aimed to analyze its prevalence and characterize NAFLD. Methods : NAFLD-related papers were surveyed via PubMed and in Korean medical journals, and then the prevalence and pathology were reviewed. Results : The prevalence of NAFLD in the general population is around 10~30% worldwide. The prevalence of NAFLD in Korea is estimated as 15~30%, which is higher than in China and Japan. The most important etiological-factors of NAFLD include central obesity resulting from excessive calorie intake and less physical activity, which lead to adiponectin hypoactivity and insulin resistance. The Oriental medicine view point of NAFLD pathology is phlegm-dampness by dysfunction of free flow in liver. Conclusions : This study provided an overview of the prevalence and pathology of NAFLD, and can support the development of a strategy for traditional Korean medicine-based prevention or treatment of NAFLD.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.849-856
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• 2009

Truncal obesity associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome increase the likelihood of hypertension, various cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia and coronary heart diseases. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) experts recognized that it is necessary to develop the simple diagnostic tool which is applicable to diagnose truncal obesity worldwide, and proposed the method using a waist circumference but there is a limit to estimate subcutaneous fat distribution. However, waist line is also influenced by total fat capacity less than the intra abdominal fat. The more having severe obesity, the more correlation coefficient between waist line and intra abdominal fat is low. Therefore, this thesis defines a new abdominal impedance measurement position and impedance-index to analysis central obesity. This proposes the new model to estimate abdominal obesity using the abdominal impedance-index and CT images acquired fro 160 Korean subjects. The proposed model shows that the abdominal fat distribution has a higher correlation than waist line. (Adj R2=0.809, 0.667 and 0.687 with abdominal fat area, visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area respectively).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.417-423
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• 2013

Vitamin D is an essential component of bone and mineral metabolism; its deficiency causes growth retardation and skeletal deformities in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. Hypovitaminosis D (vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency) is observed not only in adults but also in infants, children, and adolescents. Previous studies suggest that sufficient serum vitamin D levels should be maintained in order to enhance normal calcification of the growth plate and bone mineralization. Moreover, emerging evidence supports an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and immune function, respiratory diseases, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, infection, allergy, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases in pediatric and adolescent populations. The risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in the pediatric population are season (winter), insufficient time spent outdoors, ethnicity (non-white), older age, more advanced stage of puberty, obesity, low milk consumption, low socioeconomic status, and female gender. It is recommended that all infants, children, and adolescents have a minimum daily intake of 400 IU ($10{\mu}g$) of vitamin D. Since the vitamin D status of the newborn is highly related to maternal vitamin D levels, optimal vitamin D levels in the mother during pregnancy should be maintained. In conclusion, given the important role of vitamin D in childhood health, more time spent in outdoor activity (for sunlight exposure) and vitamin D supplementation may be necessary for optimal health in infants, children, and adolescents.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2011

The rhizome of Alisma orientale Juzep (Alismataceae) has been used as a crude drug for diabetes, edema, inflammation and urinary disturbances in oriental medicine. Recent animal studies have shown that the extract of Alisma orientale rhizome (AOR) can potently lower high levels of serum lipids and improve insulin resistance, which are usually detected in patients and animals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. So, we studied the antioxidative effects of AOR extracts and fraction in vitro and their protective effects against acute hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$ in vivo.. We then investigated the effects of each fraction on hepatotoxicity induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). DAOR (dichloromethane fraction of the Alisma orientale rhizome) scavenged free radicals and superoxide anions. DAOR protected against $CCl_4$ induced hepatotoxicity. DAOR had hepatoprotective and antioxidative effects against t-BHP-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells and in rats.