• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1565-1574
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify genetic variants based on RNA-seq data, obtained via transcriptome sequencing of muscle tissue of pigs differing in muscle histological structure, and to verify the variants' effect on histological microstructure and production traits in a larger pig population. Methods: RNA-seq data was used to identify the panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly related with percentage and diameter of each fiber type (I, IIA, IIB). Detected polymorphisms were mapped to quantitative trait loci (QTLs) regions. Next, the association study was performed on 944 animals representing five breeds (Landrace, Large White, Pietrain, Duroc, and native Puławska breed) in order to evaluate the relationship of selected SNPs and histological characteristics, meat quality and carcasses traits. Results: Mapping of detected genetic variants to QTL regions showed that chromosome 14 was the most overrepresented with the identification of four QTLs related to percentage of fiber types I and IIA. The association study performed on a 293 longissimus muscle samples confirmed a significant positive effect of transforming acidic coiled-coil-containing protein 2 (TACC2) polymorphisms on fiber diameter, while SNP within forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) locus was associated with decrease of diameter of fiber types IIA and IIB. Moreover, subsequent general linear model analysis showed significant relationship of FOXO1, delta 4-desaturase, sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1), and troponin T2 (TNNT2) genes with loin 'eye' area, FOXO1 with loin weight, as well as FOXO1 and TACC2 with lean meat percentage. Furthermore, the intramuscular fat content was positively associated (p<0.01) with occurrence of polymorphisms within DEGS1, TNNT2 genes and negatively with occurrence of TACC2 polymorphism. Conclusion: This study's results indicate that the SNP calling analysis based on RNA-seq data can be used to search candidate genes and establish the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. The presented results can be used for future studies evaluating the use of selected SNPs as genetic markers related to muscle histological profile and production traits in pig breeding.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.397-402
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• 1985

The fermentation of various sugars by C. thermosaccharolyticum was examined under pH controlled, anaerobic condition. The kinetic model for Product formation at various sugars was the combination of growth and non-growth associated mode. In the utilization of a single sugar, glucose was the best carbon source for growth. The specific growth rate of glucose, xylose and cellobiose were 0.363 h$^{-1}$, 0.242 h$^{-1}$ and 0.144 h$^{-1}$ respectively. The production of ethanol from glucose showed a negatively growth associated mode, so the higher growth rate decreased the productivity of ethanol. The maximum concentrations of the produced ethanol were 2.42 g/l, 3.76 g/l, and 3.4 g/l on glucose, xylose, and cellobiose. No glucose was detected during cellobiose fermentation. Sequential utilization of sugars was observed in the mixtures of glucose, xylose and cellobiose. It preferred glucose, followed by xylose and then cellobiose. The presence of other sugars had little or no effect on the rate of another sugar utilization. Cell lysis at the end of fermentation occured more slowly in the mixtures of sugars than a single sugar.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2015

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the differences in subjective symptoms, clinical characteristics, distribution according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) subgroup, psychological profile of TMD patients, and to identify the prevalence and trend according to age. Methods: A total of 1,052 patients (261 men and 791 women; mean age, $34.40{\pm}15.73$ years) who visited the Orofacial Pain Clinic of the Department of Oral Medicine, Seoul National University Dental Hospital complaining of TMD symptoms of were evaluated. All patients were questioned for medical history, clinical symptoms and contributing factors. Clinical examination and patient grouping based on RDC/TMD was conducted. Radiographies were taken. The Korean version of RDC/TMD axis II and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) were administered to evaluate pain-related disability level and psychological status of the patients. Results: Prevalence peaked in the 20-year-old age group. There were more women than men in all groups. The highest T-score among SCL-90-R dimensions was somatization in each group, except for teenagers who showed the highest T-score in interpersonal sensitivity. The 30-year-old age group showed the highest distribution of high disability based on the graded chronic pain scale. Age was positively associated with pain intensity (r=0.100), number of positive muscles on palpation (r=0.137) and negatively associated with maximum mouth opening (r=-0.168). Conclusions: Subjective symptoms and clinical characteristics of TMD patients show distinct tendencies according to different age groups. Treatment should be customized and personalized according to age for efficient symptom resolution and patient satisfaction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to determine the preventive effects of combined interventional trial of fish oil treatment and exercise training on insulin resistance of skeletal muscle in high-fat fed rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into chow diet (CD), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet with fish oil (FO), high-fat diet with exercise training (EX), and FO+EX groups. The rats in control group were fed chow diet containing, as percents of calories, 58.9% carbohydrate, 12.4% fat, and 28.7% protein. High-fat diet provided 32% energy as lard, 18% as corn oil, 27% as carbohydrate and 23% as casein. The fish oil diet had the same composition as the high fat diet except that 100 g menhaden oil was substituted for corn oil. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by in vitro glucose transport in the soleus muscle after diet treatment and treadmill running for 4 weeks. While the FO or EX only partially prevented insulin resistance on glucose transport and visceral obesity induced by high-fat diet, these interventions completely corrected hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia from the high-fat diet. The rats in the FO+EX showed normalized insulin action on glucose transport, plasma chemicals and visceral fat mass. Insulin-mediated glucose transport was negatively associated with total visceral fat mass (r=－0.734; p＜0.000), plasma triglyceride (r=－0.403; p＜0.05) and lepin (r=－0.583; p＜0.001) concentrations with significance. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that only total visceral fat mass was independently associated with insulin-mediated glucose transport (r=－0.668; p＜0.000). In conclusion, combined interventional trial of FO+EX recovered insulin resistance on glucose transport of skeletal muscle induced by high-fat diet. Visceral fat mass might be more important factor than plasma TG and leptin to induce insulin resistance on glucose transport of skeletal muscle in high-fat fed rats.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the relationship between maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and pregnancy outcomes (low birth weight or preform baby) in a prospective cohort study. Methods : We made a pregnant women's cohort, and followed the pregnancy outcomes, between May 1st 2001 and August 31st 2002. We surveyed 2,250 women who visited our hospital during their 35th gestational week, with a self-administered questionnaire. The final total of mother-infant pairs analyzed in this study was 1,712. We used a multiple logistic regression analysis to analyze the effect of maternal ETS on the incidence of preform or low birth weight, and a linear regression analysis for the birth weight and gestational age. Results : Higher exposure to ETS (>=1 hours/day) during pregnancy was more negatively associated with the gestational age and birth weight, than no exposure to ETS (no or less than 1 hour). Maternal exposure to ETS was associated with preform baby(adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9, 3.3) and low birth weight (AOR 2.3; 95% CI 0.9, 5.5). In addition, we found that maternal ETS may reduce the birth weight by 70g after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Conclusions : This study suggests that maternal exposure to ETS during pregnancy may increase the frequency of low birth weights and preform births.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.695-706
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• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the associations of the percent body fat dietary intake, plasma lipoprotein profile, lipoprotein(a), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) concentrations of 1982 Korean subjects(men : 1000 and women : 982) between the ages of 40 and 59 years. The dietary assessment consisted of twenty-four hour dietary records and food frequency questionnaires. The subjects were identified into one of the five rating groups of % body fat : lean, underweight, normal, overweight and obese groups. The biochemical assessment included measurements of plasma total cholesterol(TC), HDL-cholesterol(HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol(LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), lipoprotein(a)(Lp(a)), and PAI-1. With respect to the ratio of percent energy intake of carbohydrate : protein : fat of the normal group of the women was 62% : 17% : 20%, respectively. Women apparently had a higher intake of carbohydrates than men(52% : 17 : 20%) did. There was a linear relationship between energy intake and % body fat in both mean and women(with the exception of the underweight group of women). The relationship of % body fat of men to the protein and fat intake was higher than that of the carbohydrate intake. Of the men in the study, intakes of energy, protein and alcohol were positively correlated to % body fat. In women, energy, carbohydrate and protein intake were positively correlated to % body fat, however, the fat, cholesterol and alcohol intake did not show any correlation to the % body fat in women. This study showed that % body fat was positively correlated with plasma TC, LDL-C, PAI-1 levels, and TG, but the % body fat was negatively correlated with plasma HDL-C level in both men and women. These results indicated that the high energy intake of obese or overweight subjects might contribute to several of the biochemical indices fo coronary heart disease(CHD) risk. In conclusion, increased energy intake is associated with overweight or obesity in middle aged Korean people. There was no relationship between % energy intake of fat and % body fat in the study, in middle-aged Korean men and women. The plasma lipid profile and PAI-1 level thought to be the risk factors of CHD were positively associated with percent body fat in middle aged Korean people.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A pivotal role of oxidative stress has been emphasized in the pathogenesis as well as in the disease progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed at investigating serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and elucidating whether they could be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of PD. MATERIALS/METHODS: Serum levels of retinol, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-tocopherols, ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-carotenes, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin were measured and compared between 104 patients with idiopathic PD and 52 healthy controls matched for age and gender. In order to examine the relationship between antioxidant vitamins and the disease progression, multiple group comparisons were performed among the early PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage I and II, N = 47), advanced PD (stage III and IV, N = 57) and control groups. Separate correlation analyses were performed between the measured antioxidant vitamins and clinical variables, such as Hoehn and Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score. RESULTS: Compared to controls, PD patients had lower levels of ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-carotenes and lycopene. ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene levels were significantly reduced in advanced PD patients relative to early PD patients and were negatively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr stage and UPDRS motor score in PD patients. No significant differences were found in serum levels of retinol, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-tocopherols, and other carotenoids between PD patients and controls. No significant correlations were found between these vitamin levels and clinical variables in PD patients. CONCLUSTIONS: We found that serum levels of some carotenoids, ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene, were lower in PD patients, and that these carotenoids inversely correlated with clinical variables representing disease progression. Our findings suggest that decreases in serum ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene may be associated with the pathogenesis as well as progression of PD.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1160-1168
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to compare morphological defects, viability, motility (MOT), fertility (F), and hatchability (H) in four Korean native chicken breeds (KNCBs), and to evaluate whether defective segments of spermatozoa are associated with MOT, F, and H. Methods: Four KNCBs, including Korean Ogye (KO), Hwangbong (HB), Hyunin Black (HH), and Hoengseong Yakdak (HY) were used. White Leghorn (WL) was used as a control. Nine cocks from each breed were randomly assigned into three groups. Semen was collected by abdominal massage method. Eosin-nigrosin staining method was used to identify live-dead spermatozoa. Different segments and specific morphological defects of spermatozoa were identified using 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylidole and MitoTracker Red CMXRos. F and H rates were evaluated following artificial insemination (AI). Results: KO had the highest MOT rate compared to HY. Viable normal sperm rates of KO and HH were high and comparable with WL. HY spermatozoa had the highest viable abnormal sperm (VAS) or morphological defect rate followed by HB. Likewise, HB spermatozoa had the highest dead sperm (dead) rate compared to KO, HY, and WL. Bent, coiled, detached, broken, and knotted were common identified specific morphological defects for all breeds. Most morphological defects were at the head and tail in all breeds. VAS showed strong negative correlation with MOT (r = -0.697) and F (r = -0.609). Similarly, defective tail was negatively correlated with MOT (r = -0.587), F (r = -0.797), and H (r = -0.448). The F and H rates of KO and WL were comparable. Conclusion: These data indicate that most identified specific morphological defects are at the head and tail. VAS and defective tail were associated with poor motility, F, and H. KNCBs showed more morphological defects than WL. Finally, these results will facilitate successful AI and semen cryopreservation.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2010

Elderly people comprise an increasing proportion of the population, and nutritional impairments may contribute to health problems among this group. This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional status by Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and to identify relationships among anthropometric measurements, biochemical indicators, bone Mineral Density (BMD) and MNA results among older adults (${\geq}$65 yrs, n=98, 66.7${\pm}$2.5 yrs; M=52, F=46, BMI 24.5${\pm}$2.8 $kg/m^2$) at a Health Care Center. A dietitian administered MNA and collected anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference), biochemical indicators (albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, TLC, glucose, lipids) and the BMD (spine, femur, F=46). Subjects were grouped into a normal nutrition group (0~2 risk factors of malnutrition) and a high risk of malnutrition group (>=3 risk factors of malnutrition) based on their risk factor status for malnutrition. The risk factors for malnutrition include age ${\geq}$65 years, PIBW <90%, albumin <3.5 g/dl, TLC <1,500%, Hgb <14 g/dl (men), Hgb <10 g/dl (women), loss of appetite and weight loss 1~3 kg/last 3 months. In addition, subjects were grouped into a normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis group by BMD. We found that 12% of the subjects were at risk of malnutrition (MNA score, 21.4${\pm}$2.1) and that 88% were well nourished (27.3${\pm}$1.5) according to the MNA. Full-MNA scores were positively and significantly (p<0.05) associated with BMI, mid-arm circumference (MAC), calf circumference (CC), albumin and hemoglobin, respectively. The full-MNA score of the high risk of malnutrition group (23.0${\pm}$3.8) was lower than that of the normal nutrition group (27.0${\pm}$2.1) (p<0.05). In addition, the Full-MNA score was negatively associated with the risk factor of malnutrition (r=－0.35, p=0.0004). We found that 39.1% of the subjects had osteoporosis, 45.7% had osteopenia and 15.2% were normal according to their BMD. The MNA score of osteoporosis group (24.58${\pm}$3.3) was lower than that of the normal (27.4${\pm}$1.1) and osteopenia group (26.9${\pm}$1.5) (p<0.05). These results suggested that MNA can be useful as a nutritional screening tool of older adults in Health Care Centers.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.121-130
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• 2020

Objectives: We investigated the differences in cognitive and emotional empathic ability between adolescents and adults, and the differences of the brain activation during cognitive and emotional empathy tasks. Methods: Adolescents (aged 13-15 years, n=14) and adults (aged 19-29 years, n=17) completed a range of empathic ability questionnaires and were scanned functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during both cognitive and emotional empathy task. Differences in empathic ability and brain activation between the groups were analyzed. Results: Both cognitive and emotional empathic ability were significantly lower in the adolescent compared to the adult group. Comparing the adolescent to the adult group showed that brain activation was significantly greater in the right transverse temporal gyrus (BA 41), right insula (BA 13), right superior parietal lobule (BA 7), right precentral gyrus (BA 4), and right thalamus whilst performing emotional empathy tasks. No brain regions showed significantly greater activation in the adolescent compared to the adult group while performing cognitive empathy task. In the adolescent group, scores of the Fantasy Subscale in the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, which reflects cognitive empathic ability, negatively correlated with activity of right superior parietal lobule during emotional empathic situations (r=-0.739, p=0.006). Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that adolescents possess lower cognitive and emotional empathic abilities than adults do and require compensatory hyperactivation of the brain regions associated with emotional empathy or embodiment in emotional empathic situation. Compensatory hyperactivation in the emotional empathy-related brain areas among adolescents are likely associated with their lower cognitive empathic ability.