• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disrupter, enters the human body continuously in food and drink. Young children are likely to be more vulnerable than adults to chemical exposure due to the immaturities of their organ systems, rapid physical development, and higher ventilation, metabolic rates, and activity levels. The direct effect of BPA on peripheral tissue might also be of importance to the development of insulin resistance. However, the influence that BPA has on insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle has not been previously investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of BPA on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in post-weaned Wistar rats and on insulin signaling proteins in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of BPA on insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes. In rats, BPA treatment (0.1-1,000 ng/mL for 24 hours) resulted in the increase of FBG and plasma insulin levels, and reduced insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of insulin receptor (IR) was decreased after 24 hours of BPA treatment in C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the mRNA levels of other insulin signaling proteins, including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), were unaffected. Treatment with BPA increased GLUT4 expression and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity in C2C12 myotubes, but not in protein levels. We conclude that exposure to BPA can induce insulin resistance by decreasing IR gene expression, which is followed by a decrease in insulin- mediated Akt activation and increased PTP1B activity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.148-161
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• 2018

Objectives: This study examined the effects of nutrition education and exercise therapies on the hematological status and diabetes knowledge of diabetic patients. For this purpose, a 12-week intensive management program was provided to diabetic patients participating in an exercise program in S health subcenter in Kwangju city and the effects were analyzed. Methods: The subjects were 26 diabetic patients, who provided written informed consent. As a preliminary survey, this study examined the general characteristics, physical status, obesity, blood pressure, hematological status, daily activity level, diabetes knowledge, diet performance, and barriers to diet therapy. After the 12-week intensive management program was completed, a post-test was conducted in the same way as the preliminary test. The data were analyzed with using SPSS 18.0. The data from this study are presented as the mean${\pm}$standard deviation. A paired t-test was conducted to compare differences in the means before and after the program. Statistical significance was set to p<0.05. Results: The results of the program are presented as follows. The HDL-cholesterol levels changed from $39.8{\pm}10.5mg/dL$ to $48.3{\pm}13.1mg/dL$, showing a significant increase (p<0.001). The blood sugar 2 hours after a meal changed from $175.2{\pm}67.1mg/dL$ to $140.5{\pm}42.5mg/dL$, showing a significant decrease (p=0.014). The glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased significantly from $6.7{\pm}1.1%$ to $6.3{\pm}1.0%$ (p=0.010). The total scores of the daily activity levels increased significantly from $3.8{\pm}2.4$ to $4.8{\pm}2.5$ (p=0.040). The scores of knowledge on diabetes increased from $11.5{\pm}3.6$ to $14.0{\pm}3.8$ (p=0.001). The scores of knowledge on diet therapy changed from $6.7{\pm}2.2$ to $7.9{\pm}1.7$, showing a significant increase (p=0.027). Conclusions: The 12-week intensive management program intervened by nutrition education and exercise therapies induced positive changes to the HDL-cholesterol, blood sugar 2 hours after a meal, glycosylated hemoglobin, daily activity levels, and knowledge on diabetes.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.305-314
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information on regional senior welfare policy setting for the elderly in the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas and on the development of senior welfare programs on the basis of the data of the 2019 community health survey conducted by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The subjects in this study were 74,547 senior citizens who were at the ages of 65 and over as of 2019 and who were 17,423 from the metropolitan area and 57,124 from the nonmetropolitan areas. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 26.0. The findings of the study were as follows: As for the levels of happiness in the metropolitan area, happiness was better in the seniors who were aged 75 and up, who had spouses, whose income was larger and who engaged in economic activity. In the nonmetropolitan areas, happiness was better in the seniors who were aged 75 and up, who were better educated, who had spouses, whose income was larger and who engaged in economic activity. In terms of health behaviors and subjective health levels, more happiness was felt by the seniors who didn't smoke at present, who didn't suffer any subjective stress, who were at higher subjective health levels and higher subjective oral health levels and who had unmet health care needs, no matter whether they dwelled in the metropolitan or nonmetropolitan areas. In the nonmetropolitan areas, however, engaging in intensive physical activity and lower BMI were identified as the factors to affect happiness.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Oxygen is the final acceptor of electron transport from fat and carbohydrate oxidation, which is the rate-limiting factor for cellular ATP production. Under altitude hypoxia condition, energy reliance on anaerobic glycolysis increases to compensate for the shortfall caused by reduced fatty acid oxidation [1]. Therefore, training at altitude is expected to strongly influence the human metabolic system, and has the potential to be designed as a non-pharmacological or recreational intervention regimen for correcting diabetes or related metabolic problems. However, most people cannot accommodate high altitude exposure above 4500 M due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and insulin resistance corresponding to a increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine [2]. Thus, less stringent conditions were evaluated to determine whether glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity could be improved by moderate altitude exposure (below 4000 M). In 2003, we and another group in Austria reported that short-term moderate altitude exposure plus endurance-related physical activity significantly improves glucose tolerance (not fasting glucose) in humans [3,4], which is associated with the improvement in the whole-body insulin sensitivity [5]. With daily hiking at an altitude of approximately 4000 M, glucose tolerance can still be improved but fasting glucose was slightly elevated. Individuals vary widely in their response to altitude challenge. In particular, the improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by prolonged altitude hiking activity is not apparent in those individuals with low baseline DHEA-S concentration [6]. In addition, hematopoietic adaptation against altitude hypoxia can also be impaired in individuals with low DHEA-S. In short-lived mammals like rodents, the DHEA-S level is barely detectable since their adrenal cortex does not appear to produce this steroid [7]. In this model, exercise training recovery under prolonged hypoxia exposure (14-15% oxygen, 8 h per day for 6 weeks) can still improve insulin sensitivity, secondary to an effective suppression of adiposity [8]. Genetically obese rats exhibit hyperinsulinemia (sign of insulin resistance) with up-regulated baseline levels of AMP-activated protein kinase and AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle compared to lean rats. After prolonged hypoxia training, this abnormality can be reversed concomitant with an approximately 50% increase in GLUT4 protein expression. Additionally, prolonged moderate hypoxia training results in decreased diffusion distance of muscle fiber (reduced cross-sectional area) without affecting muscle weight. In humans, moderate hypoxia increases postprandial blood distribution towards skeletal muscle during a training recovery. This physiological response plays a role in the redistribution of fuel storage among important energy storage sites and may explain its potent effect on changing body composition. Conclusion: Prolonged moderate altitude hypoxia (rangingfrom 1700 to 2400 M), but not acute high attitude hypoxia (above 4000 M), can effectively improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance for humans and antagonizes the obese phenotype in animals with a genetic defect. In humans, the magnitude of the improvementvaries widely and correlates with baseline plasma DHEA-S levels. Compared to training at sea-level, training at altitude effectively decreases fat mass in parallel with increased muscle mass. This change may be associated with increased perfusion of insulin and fuel towards skeletal muscle that favors muscle competing postprandial fuel in circulation against adipose tissues.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2019

This study was designed to investigate the physiological response of humans to alcohol during underwater activity and to complete related risk analysis. After comparing human responses to alcohol during underwater activity, we analyzed physiological changes and risk level using a new risk analysis method developed in this study, 'Risk Assessment and Analysis (RAA)'. RAA is a modified method based on an internal control frame work. It has 3 steps, the first of which is to analyze risk correlation. The second step is to quantify risk and build a risk database. The last step is to analyze the diagramed risk map. Using RAA, the risk levels of alcohol use underwater were calculated and diagramed. The diagramed risk map was then used to analyze the difference between risk levels underwater before and after alcohol use. As a result, it was found that risk level underwater increased after alcohol use. This study shows alcohol use increases the ratio of high risk groups during underwater activity. It also indicates that risk levels can be quantified according to the likelihood and impairment scale, which can potentially help in identifying high risk groups for intensive management underwater.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the levels of quality of life (QOL) according to the grade of long-term care service for the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance, and to reveal its association with the physical and mental functioning such as the Activity of Daily Living (ADL), the Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K). Methods: The interviews were performed during the period from March 1 to May 31, 2009, for 958 elderly people in urban and rural areas. The questionnaire items included various indices such as the ADL, IADL, CES-D, and MMSE-K, as independent variables and the index of QOL, as the dependent ones. For statistical analysis, t-tests were used for the mean scores of QOL according to gender and the grade of long-term care services, and Spearman's correlation was used for each variable. The effects of physical and mental functioning for QOL were assessed by covariance structure analysis. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean scores of QOL among all the subjects was $55.4{\pm}15.62$ (Grade I: $49.7{\pm}14.17$, Grade II: $56.8{\pm}14.62$, Grade III: $59.4{\pm}16.36$), and it was lower according to the higher grade of long-term care insurance. In terms of the correlation matrix of the QOL and the physical and mental function factors, the QOL showed positive correlation with the ADL, IADL and MMSE-K, while it had negative correlation with depression. On the analysis of covariance, mental functioning (depression and the MMSE-K) had a greater influence on the level of QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL). Conclusions: The level of the QOL in the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance was lower according to higher the grade of long-term care insurance. Also, the mental functioning (depression and MMSE-K) was more influential on the level of the QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1057-1068
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the differences of health patterns; health-related characteristics, health behaviors, health problems, and self-care levels of elderly, living alone in an urban area according to age roup. Method: The study design was a descriptive survey and the subjects were 1,800 elderly consisting of 937 young old, 704 middle old, and 159 old old. Data was collected from May to July 2003 using the structured questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, $\chi$$^2$-test, Fisher's exact probability test, ANOVA and Scheffe test using SPSS/PC. Result: The health related characteristics which involved body mass index, mental status, use of assistant devices, perceived health, concern of health, and social support were different among the groups and more aggravated by aging. Health behaviors and health problems were also significantly aggravated in the old old group. The self-care levels measured by ADL, physical activity, and self-care ability scores were also significantly decreased in the old old group. Conclusion: For the level of health status, health behaviors and self-care ability were significantly decreased by aging, health care services for the elderly should be planned considering the difference in the health pattern by age group.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2014

Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of apigenin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Apigenin significantly relaxed fluoride-, thromboxane $A_2$ mimetic- or phorbol ester-induced vascular contraction, which suggests that apigenin could be an anti-hypertensive that reduces agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, apigenin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels and phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels, which suggests the mechanism involving the inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of apigenin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.276-284
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• 2013

This study compared levels of health and dietary behavior practices and health beliefs according to the stage of weight loss behavior change of Korean male workers. A self-administered survey questionnaire was collected from 411 male adult workers residing in Seoul, Kyeonggi, Chungcheong region. Practices of health related behavior, including smoking, drinking, exercise, work related physical activity, and dietary behavior according to dietary guidelines were evaluated. In addition, the levels of perceived benefit, perceived barrier, perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, and perceived cue to action from the health belief model were measured according to the stages of weight loss behavior change. Significant differences in BMI, level of daily exercise, and practices of dietary behavior according to dietary guidelines were observed among stages of weight loss behavior change. Subjects who were in action/maintenance stage showed a more desirable level of health behavior and health belief model variables, except perceived barrier. Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that subjects with different stages of behavior change need an appropriate specific nutrition education method and material for improvement of nutrition education efficacy.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify factors affecting elders' intention to participate in healthcare programs. Methods: This secondary data analysis used data of 390 elderly people who lived alone and were enrolled in the Visiting Health Care Center of H-city. In 2014, questionnaires were used to collect data about demographics, social activity, depression, frailty, and intention to participate in healthcare programs. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: Among the participants, 51.8% intended to participate in the offered healthcare programs. The strongest factor affecting the intention was gender. Women were 4.85 times more likely to participate in the programs than men. The women's intention was associated positively with increased levels of frailty. The men tended to participate in the program as they got older and as the level of frailty and the number of chronic diseases increased. Conclusion: Gender-specific public healthcare programs for vulnerable elders living alone should be developed to maximize their participation in the programs and to promote good health. The healthcare programs must be tailored to the levels of the patients' physical functions.