• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2020

Objectives Excess weight and obesity are a crucial public health problem worldwide and are considered as the main cause of many chronic diseases. The present study evaluated the effects of Aronia melanocarpa extract (AMEX) supplementation on body compositions in overweight or obese people. Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 66 healthy overweight or obese peoples. The eligible subjects were divided into AMEX and placebo supplement treatment for 12 weeks. Anthropometrics, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and blood analysis were performed preand post intervention. Results We observed significant reductions in the body weight and body mass index in both groups; however, the decrease was higher in the AMEX group. Body fat mass and percent body fat showed a tendency to decreases after AMEX supplementation. No clinically significant changes were observed for any safety parameter. Conclusions In conclusion, the data of this trial indicate that AMEX were not effective in reducing body compositions, but as a safe supplement, it may help weight loss in overweight or obese people.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.47-56
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• 2009

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the progress of weight and waist circumference(WC) through oriental obesity treatment and clarify the correlation between weight loss and WC change. Methods The subjects were treated from January 2007 to September 2009 in J Oriental Medical Center. Herbal medicine, electroacupuncture, oriental obesity physiotherapy were performed for a month. We checked the change of weight and WC at every treatment. We classified the WC into upper, middle, lower parts specifically and measured them individually. Measurements were analyzed by using one-way repeated measures ANOVA and we also investigated correlation between weight loss and WC change. Results (1) During the first and second treatment sessions, the weight loss was the highest, $0.96{\pm}0.86\;kg$($1.46{\pm}1.32\;%$) and during the 5th and 6th treatment sessions, the lowest $0.37{\pm}0.616\;kg$. The final weight loss was $3.71{\pm}1.476\;kg$($5.51{\pm}2.12\;%$). (2) After 8 treatment sessions, the reductions of upper, middle and lower WC were $3.59{\pm}2.26\;%$, $5.93{\pm}2.75\;%$, $5.51{\pm}3.22\;%$, respectively. As the patients received more treatment, there was a progressive decline in the variation of weight and middle WC. However, the decline rate of upper and middle WC fluctuated during the treatments, forming a W-shaped curve. (3) Analysis of the correlation between the weight loss and WC change shows that the reduction of middle WC was most closely associated with the weight loss. Conclusions This study indicated that the rate of weight loss and WC reduction showed stagnation during the 5th and 6th treatment sessions, and the reduction of middle WC was most closely associated with the weight loss. Since the progress of weight and WC change is an important field of research on obesity, further systemic studies would be needed for the foundation of a clinical guideline.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 2007

This study examined the effects of dietary ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin (${\beta}CD$) on the cholesterol of blood and tissues of swine. Thirty six male castrated swine ($Landrace{\times}Yolkshire{\times}Duroc$) weighing 50 kg were randomly assigned to one of four dietary groups until their weight reached 110 kg. The groups were: basal diet without ${\beta}CD$ (control) and basal diets containing 1.5%, 3.0%, or 5.0% ${\beta}CD$. Diets and water were offered ad libitum. No significant difference was found between treatments in terms of feeding performance measured by daily intake, daily weight gain, and feed efficiency. Addition of ${\beta}CD$ to the diets significantly reduced total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in swine blood, particularly in the group receiving 5.0% ${\beta}CD$, which showed decreases (p<0.05) of 21.9%, 55.6% and 27.7%, respectively. Cholesterol levels in back fat, loin, belly and ham portions of swine fed ${\beta}CD$ significantly differed (p<0.05) from controls, especially in the 5.0% ${\beta}CD$-fed group, with reductions of 26.0%, 27.5%, 17.9% and 18.3%, respectively. These results suggested that the addition of ${\beta}CD$ to the diet of swine could reduce their body cholesterol by decreasing the migration of cholesterol through the blood.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2009

In recent years, reductions in infant mortality have mainly been accomplished by improving the survival of premature and low birth weight infants, however premature infants still remain at great risk. The purpose of this study was to review the maternal child health service related to premature infants and to provide a future direction for improving maternal child health (MCH) in Korea. We reviewed two MCH services which are directly related to premature infants: 1) a registry and financial support program for families with a premature infant, and 2) financial support to build neonatal intensive care units in rural public hospitals. Suggestions are made for the development of a national vital signs record system to identify high risk infants and to monitor the trends in infant mortality due to prematurity. Prevention efforts and preconception care for childbearing women is also an important strategy to reduce the rate of preterm births. Finally, we need consider long-term follow-up plans for premature infants for a successful transit to the special education system. Developing MCH policy related to premature infants that decreases the occurrence of premature may decrease infant mortality, and also improve maternal and child health services.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.901-906
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• 2010

The improvement of the fermentation quality of rice straw silage by application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and glucose was investigated in this study. Sixteen rice varieties were harvested at the maturity stage and the rice straw was ensiled with LAB inoculant ($1{\times}10^5$ cfu/g of fresh weight) and glucose (2% of fresh weight). Inoculation with LAB improved the fermentation as reflected in reductions in pH, acetic acid (by 3.7 to 78.3%), butyric acid (by -6.0 to 100.0%) and ammonia nitrogen (by 1.0 to 71.7%) concentrations, and increases in lactic acid (by 43.9 to 282.9%) and crude protein concentrations compared with the control. Application of LAB plus glucose was more effective in improving fermentation quality than LAB alone. The variety of rice straw which contained relatively high levels of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) tended to obtain better fermentation quality. The results suggested that LAB application and selection of rice varieties whose straw contained high levels of WSC were effective in improvement of the fermentation quality of rice straw silage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.144-152
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• 2012

Objective: Concerns are growing about the decrease in male reproductive health. Caffeine is one of the popular nutrients that has been implicated as a risk factor for infertility. In the present study, we examined whether in utero and lactational exposure to caffeine affects the reproductive function of the offspring of rats. Methods: Pregnant rats received caffeine via drinking water during gestation (26 and 45 mg/kg) and lactation (25 and 35 mg/kg). Body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, sperm parameters, fertility rate, number of implantations, and testosterone level of the offspring were assessed from birth to adulthood. Results: Significant dose-related decreases were observed in the body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height of the offspring. Sperm density had declined significantly in offspring of the low-dose and high-dose groups, by 8.81% and 19.97%, respectively, by postnatal day 150. The number of viable fetuses had decreased significantly in females mated with male offspring of the high-dose group at postnatal days 60, 90, 120, and 150. There were also significant reductions in testosterone levels of high-dose group offspring from birth to postnatal day 150. Conclusion: It is concluded that maternal caffeine consumption impairs gonadal development and has long-term adverse effects on the reproductive efficiency of male offspring rats.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-63
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to determined the effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation on the denervated gastrocnemius muscles of the albino rats, Sprague-Dawley. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley adult male albino rats were divided into non-treated (normal) group, denervated (control) group, denervated and electrical stimulated (experiments). The gastrocnemius muscles of the right leg were submaximally stimulated with 30 Hz electrical stimulation. After 4-week period, the animals were sacrificed, and muscle were removed, fixed by immersion, and processed for light and electron microscopy. The numbers of Ag-NOR increased significantly (p<0.001), but significant reductions of girth(p<0.01), wet muscle weight (p<0.001), high glycogen content fiber (p<0.01), and mitochondrial number (p<0.05) were found in denervated control group. In comparison with control group, significant increase of right leg girth (p<0.05), wet muscle weight (p<0.001), high glycogen content fiber (p<0.05), numbers of Ag-NOR(p<0.001), number of mitochondria (p<0.01), mitochondrial volume found in electrical stimulated experimental group. The results suggest that the electrical stimulation of the muscle partially prevented the denervated atrophy in the rat gastrocnemius muscles.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2021

Avian coccidiosis has a major economic impact on the poultry industry, it is caused by 7 species of Eimeria, and has been primarily controlled using chemotherapeutic agents. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, alternative control strategies are needed. We assessed anticoccidial effects of berberine-based diets in broiler chickens following oral infection with 5 Eimeria species (E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. mitis, and E. praecox). When 0.2% berberine, a concentration that does not affect weight gain, was added to the diet, the 4 groups infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, or E. praecox showed significant reductions in fecal oocyst shedding (P<0.05) compared to their respective infected and untreated controls. In chickens treated 0.5% berberine instead of 0.2% and infected with E. maxima, fecal oocyst production was significantly reduced, but body weight deceased, indicating that berberine treatment was not useful for E. maxima infection. Taken together, these results illustrate the applicability of berberine for prophylactic use to control most Eimeria infections except E. maxima. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in anticoccidial susceptibility to berberine, particularly E. maxima, are remained.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of temporary pH reductions on tuberization of ‘Dejima’potato in aeroponics. The pH and EC of nutrient solution were adjusted to 6.0∼6.5 and 1.2mS/cm, respectively. On 35th day after planting, plants were subjected to pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.5 for 10hrs. After 5 days mini-tuberization was shown in pH 3.0 treatment and was significantly increased up to 20 days. Temporary low pH treatment resulted in the increase of stolen formation and of tuber dry weight. Number of mini-tubers per plant on 90th-day after planting was 72.1, 69.8, 65.2, and 60.3 in pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.5 respectively.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 2009

Drug metabolism is a critical determinant of the therapeutic and adverse effects of many psychotropic drugs. The metabolism depends on the pharmacokinetics of a drug, which includes its absorption, distribution, and elimination. Psychotropic drugs are metabolized mainly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes; about 20 of these enzymes exist and they are often responsible for the rate-limiting step of drug metabolism. CYP2D6 is the best-characterized P450 enzyme that exhibits polymorphism in humans. This study determined the relationship between the CYP2D6*10 (P34S) polymorphism and the response to mirtazapine in 153 Koreans with major depressive disorder (MDD). The genotype frequencies were compared using logistic regression analysis, and between-genotype differences in the decrease in the 21-item Hamilton Depression (HAMD21) score over the 12-week treatment period were analyzed using a linear regression analysis. The proportion of remitters was lower in patients with MDD possessing the S allele than in P allele carriers after 2 weeks of mirtazapine treatment. Similarly, the reductions in the HAMD21 and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores in S allele carriers were smaller than those in patients with the P allele after 2 weeks of mirtazapine treatment. In the analysis of depression symptoms, the sleep and delusion scores had smaller reductions in S allele carriers. Based on the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale (LUNSERS), the psychic adverse effects of mirtazapine were associated with CYP2D6 P34S, while weight gain was not. These results suggest that CYP2D6 P34S affects the outcome of mirtazapine treatment in patients with MDD, and that this polymorphism may be a good genetic marker for predicting the clinical outcome of mirtazapine treatment.