• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.440-450
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• 2016

Objectives: We previously developed a dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Korean adolescents and reported that it had reasonable reliability and validity. The objective of the current study was to construct a web-based dietary evaluation system applying the FFQ for Korean adolescents and examine its applicability in the context of reliability and validity. Methods: A web-based food frequency questionnaire system was designed using a comprehensive approach, incorporating not only dietary data survey but also up-to-date nutrition information and individualized eating behavior guidelines. A convenience sample of 50 boys and girls aged 12~18 years agreed to participate in the study and completed the FFQ twice and 3 days of dietary recall on the developed website during a two-month period. The FFQ's reliability and validity was examined using correlation and cross classification analysis. We also measured participants' subjective levels of the web site's usability, visual effect, understanding, and familiarity. Results: Spearman correlation coefficients for reliability ranged from 0.74 (for vitamin A) to 0.94 (for energy). From cross-classification analyses, the proportion of subjects in the same intake quartile was highest for energy (82.0%) and lowest for vitamin A (56.0%). With regard to validity analysis, Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.34 (for fiber) to 0.79 (for energy). The proportions of subjects in the opposite categories between the first FFQ and 3-day diet recall data were generally low from 0.00% (for fat) to 36.2% (for sodium). Average subjective levels of the website's usability, visual effect, understanding, and familiarity were all found to be over 4 points out of 5 points. Conclusions: The web-based dietary evaluation system developed can serve as a valid and attractive tool for administering FFQ to Korean adolescents.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2015

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is normally related to multiorgan dysfunction and local complications. Studies have found that local pancreatic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was significantly upregulated in drug-induced SAP. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of angiotensin II receptors inhibitor valsartan on dual role of RAS in SAP in a rat model and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. 3.8% sodium taurocholate (1 ml/kg) was injected to the pancreatic capsule in order for pancreatitis induction. Rats in the sham group were injected with normal saline in identical locations. We also investigated the regulation of experimentally induced SAP on local RAS expression in the pancreas through determination of the activities of serum amylase, lipase and myeloperoxidase, histological and biochemical analysis, radioimmunoassay, fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. The results indicated that valsartan could effectively suppress the local RAS to protect against experimental acute pancreatitis through inhibition of microcirculation disturbances and inflammation. The results suggest that pancreatic RAS plays a critical role in the regulation of pancreatic functions and demonstrates application potential as AT1 receptor antagonists. Moreover, other RAS inhibitors could be a new therapeutic target in acute pancreatitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.72.1-72.14
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• 2022

Background: The treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), a common disease in dogs, is limited. Therefore, an effective method to prevent AKI in veterinary clinics is particularly crucial. Objectives: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is the third gaseous signal molecule involved in various physiological functions of the body. The present study investigated the effect of H₂S on cisplatin-induced AKI and the involved mechanisms in dogs. Methods: Cisplatin-injected dogs developed AKI symptoms as indicated by renal dysfunction and pathological changes. In the H₂S-treated group, 50 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) solution was injected at 1 mg/kg/h for 30 min before cisplatin injection. After 72 h, tissue and blood samples were collected immediately. We performed biochemical tests, optical microscopy studies, analysis with test kits, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis. Results: The study results demonstrated that cisplatin injection increased necroptosis and regulated the corresponding protein expression of receptor interacting protein kinase (RIPK) 1, RIPK3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1; furthermore, it activated the expressions of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nuclear factor kappa B, and interleukin-1β, in canine kidney tissues. Moreover, cisplatin triggered oxidative stress and affected energy metabolism. Conversely, an injection of NaHS solution considerably reduced the aforementioned changes. Conclusions: In conclusion, H₂S protects the kidney from cisplatin-induced AKI through the mitigation of necroptosis and inflammation. These findings provide new and valuable clues for the treatment of canine AKI and are of great significance for AKI prevention in veterinary clinics.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.682-693
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a hallmark of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as ulcerative colitis. This dysfunction is caused by increased permeability and the loss of tight junctions in intestinal epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether estradiol treatment reduces colonic permeability, tight junction disruption, and inflammation in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colon cancer mouse model. Methods: The effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) were evaluated in ICR male mice 4 weeks after AOM/DSS treatment. Histological damage was scored by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the levels of the colonic mucosal cytokine myeloperoxidase (MPO) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To evaluate the effects of E2 on intestinal permeability, tight junctions, and inflammation, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the expression levels of mucin 2 (MUC2) and mucin 4 (MUC4) were measured as target genes for intestinal permeability, whereas zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), occludin (OCLN), and claudin 4 (CLDN4) served as target genes for the tight junctions. Results: The colitis-mediated induced damage score and MPO activity were reduced by E2 treatment (p<0.05). In addition, the mRNA expression levels of intestinal barrier-related molecules (i.e., MUC2, ZO-1, OCLN, and CLDN4) were decreased by AOM/DSS-treatment; furthermore, this inhibition was rescued by E2 supplementation. The mRNA and protein expression of inflammation-related genes (i.e., KLF4, NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS, and COX-2) was increased by AOM/DSS-treatment and ameliorated by E2. Conclusions: E2 acts through the estrogen receptor ${\beta}$ signaling pathway to elicit anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal barrier by inducing the expression of MUC2 and tight junction molecules and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.741-748
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional intake and dietary habits of women divers in Tongyoung area and to support the guideline for the improvement of their dietary life style by a validation of a Computerized Semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionaire. Compared to the women at Jeju Island, the Tongyoung divers showed similar heights (154.6 $\pm$ 0.8 cm), weights (53.5 $\pm$ 1.0 kg) and BMIs (23.3 $\pm$0.4) , but they showed especially high levels of body fat (33.8 $\pm$ 0.8) . Their dietary habits showed they usually skipped lunch, but ate too much food at once, which may represent the dietary habits shown by obese people. Over 40% of the divers were taking some nutritious food or complementary food for health, without realizing the efficacy of these foods. The analysis of nutritional intake showed that all of average daily nutrients intakes of those below 50 years were higher than those of the Korean RDA. In the case of those above 50 years, it was shown that the average daily nutrients intakes were also higher than those of the Korean RDA except for energy (94.5%) and calcium (82.1%) . However, some individual divers showed lower nutrients intakes than 75% of RDA for calcium, iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin B$_2$. Also, excessive intakes of phosphorous and sodium could be a dietary problem. There was no correlation between BMI or percentage of body fat and energy, CHO, protein or fat. These results can provide the nutritional information for this special community, women divers, to improve their health.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.801-806
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• 2001

A study has been carried out on the separation of gold, iridium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and platinum in chromite samples and their quantitative determination using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The dissolution condition of the minerals by fusion with sodium peroxide was optimized and chromatographic elution behaviour of the rare metals was investigated by anion exchange chromatography. Spectral interference of chromium, a matrix of the minerals, was investigated on determination of gold. Chromium interfered on determination of gold at the concentration of 500 mg/L and higher. Gold plus trace amounts of iridium, palladium, rhodium and ruthenium, which must be preconcentrated before ICP-AES was separated by anion exchange chromatography after reducing Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(III) by H2O2. AuCl4- retained on the resin column was selectively eluted with acetone- HNO3-H2O as an eluent. In addition, iridium, palladium, rhodium and ruthenium remaining on the resin column were eluted as a group with concentrated HCl. However, platinum was eluted with concentrated HNO3. The recovery yield of gold with acetone-HNO3-H2O was 100.7 ${\pm}2.0%$, and the yields of palladium and platinum with concentrated HCl and HNO3 were 96.1 ${\pm}1.8%$ and 96.6 ${\pm}1.3%$, respectively. The contents of gold and platinum in a Mongolian chromite sample were 32.6 ${\pm}$ 2.2 ${\mu}g$/g and 1.6 $\pm$ 0.14 ${\mu}g$/g, respectively. Palladium was not detected.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.160-172
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutritional status and food intake during pregnancy and lactation can affect fetal programming. In the current metabolic syndrome epidemic, high-fructose diets have been strongly implicated. This study investigated the effect of maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation on the development of metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Drinking water with or without 20% fructose was administered to female C57BL/6J mice over the course of their pregnancy and lactation periods. After weaning, pups ate regular chow. Accu-Chek Performa was used to measure glucose levels, and a tail-cuff method was used to examine systolic blood pressure. Animals were sacrificed at 7 months, their livers were excised, and sections were stained with Oil Red O and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Kidneys were collected for gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time Polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Adult offspring exposed to maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation presented with heavier body weights, fattier livers, and broader areas under the curve in glucose tolerance test values than control offspring. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in the maternal high-fructose group were higher than that in controls. However, there were no significant differences in mRNA expressions of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes and sodium transporter genes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that maternal high-fructose intake during pregnancy and lactation induces metabolic syndrome with hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in adult offspring.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1506-1512
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• 2023

Quantitative analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been widely used as a diagnostic tool in the food and medical industries. Particularly, the pathogenesis of a few diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely related to high ATP concentrations. A bioluminescent D-luciferin/luciferase system, which includes a luciferase (FLuc) from the firefly Photinus pyralis as a key component, is the most commonly used method for the detection and quantification of ATP. Here, instead of isolating FLuc produced in recombinant Escherichia coli, we aimed to develop a whole-cell biocatalyst system that does not require extraction and purification of FLuc. To this end, the gene coding for FLuc was introduced into the genome of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii using the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing system. The linear relationship (r² = 0.9561) between ATP levels and bioluminescence generated from the engineered S. boulardii expressing FLuc was observed in vitro. To explore the feasibility of using the engineered S. boulardii expressing FLuc as a whole-cell biosensor to detect inflammation biomarker (i.e., ATP) in the gut, a colitis mouse model was established using dextran sodium sulfate as a colitogenic compound. Our findings demonstrated that the whole-cell biosensor can detect elevated ATP levels during gut inflammation in mice. Therefore, the simple and powerful method developed herein could be applied for non-invasive IBD diagnosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 2021

The solubilization of isolated proteins into the adequate buffer containing of surfactants is primary step for proteomic analysis. Particularly, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is the most widely used surfactant, however, it is not compatible with mass spectrometry (MS). Therefore, it must be removed prior to MS analysis through rigorous washing, which eventually results in inevitable protein loss. Recently, photocleavable surfactant, 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo), was reported which can be easily degraded by UV irradiation and is compatible with MS during proteomic approach using animal tissues. In this study, we employed comparative label-free proteomic analysis for evaluating the solubilization efficacies of the Azo and SDS surfactants using rice leave proteins. This approach led to identification of 3,365 proteins of which 682 proteins were determined as significantly modulated. Further, according to the subcellular localization prediction in SDS and Azo, proteins localized in the chloroplast were the major organelle accounting for 64% of the total organelle in the SDS sample, while only 37.5% of organelle proteins solubilized in the Azo were predicted to be localized in chloroplast. Taken together, this study validates the efficient solubilization of total protein isolated from plant material for bottom-up proteomics. Azo surfactant is suitable as substitute of SDS and promising for bottom-up proteomics as it facilitates robust protein extraction, rapid washing step during enzymatic digestion, and MS analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2024

Purpose: ¹⁸F-FET, a radiopharmaceutical based on a Tyrosine amino acid derivative using the Sodium-Potassium Pump-independent Transporter (System L) for non-invasive evaluation of primary, recurrent, and metastatic brain tumors, exhibits distinct characteristics. Unlike the widely absorbed ¹⁸F-FDG in both tumor and normal brain tissues, ¹⁸F-FET demonstrates specific uptake only in tumor tissue while almost negligible uptake in normal brain tissue. This study aims to compare and evaluate the usefulness of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FET Brain PET/CT quantitative analysis in brain tumor diagnosis. Materials and Methods: In 46 patients diagnosed with brain gliomas (High Grade: 34, Low Grade: 12), Brain PET/CT scans were performed at 40 minutes after ¹⁸F-FDG injection and at 20 minutes (early) and 80 minutes (delay) after ¹⁸F-FET injection. SUV_max and SUV_peak of tumor areas corresponding to MRI images were measured in each scan, and the SUV_max-to-SUV_peak ratio, an indicator of tumor prognosis, was calculated. Differences in SUV_max, SUV_peak, and SUV_max-to-SUV_peak ratio between ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FET early/delay scans were statistically verified using SPSS (ver.28) package program. Results: SUV_max values were 3.72±1.36 for ¹⁸F-FDG, 4.59±1.55 for ¹⁸F-FET early, and 4.12±1.36 for ¹⁸F-FET delay scans. The highest SUV_max was observed in ¹⁸F-FET early scans, particularly in HG tumors (4.85±1.44), showing a slightly more significant difference (P<0.0001). SUV_peak values were 3.33±1.13 for ¹⁸F-FDG, 3.04±1.11 for ¹⁸F-FET early, and 2.80±0.96 for ¹⁸F-FET delay scans. The highest SUV_peak was in ¹⁸F-FDG scans, while the lowest was in ¹⁸F-FET delay scans, with a more significant difference in HG tumors (P<0.001). SUV_max-to-SUV_peak ratio values were 1.11±0.09 for ¹⁸F-FDG, 1.54±0.22 for ¹⁸F-FET early, and 1.48±0.17 for ¹⁸F-FET delay scans. This ratio was higher in ¹⁸F-FET scans for both HG and LG tumors (P<0.0001), but there was no statistically significant difference between ¹⁸F-FET early and delay scans. Conclusion: This study confirms the usefulness of early and delay scans in ¹⁸F-FET Brain PET/CT examinations, particularly demonstrating the changes in objective quantitative metrics such as SUV_max, SUV_peak, and introducing the SUV_max-to-SUV_peak ratio as a new evaluation metric based on the degree of tumor malignancy. This is expected to further contributions to the quantitative analysis of Brain PET/CT images.