• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.246-256
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association of total dietary antioxidant capacity (TAC) with oxidative stress and metabolic markers among patients with metabolic syndrome according to gender. Methods: A total of 346 subjects aged 30~59 years with two or more risk factors of metabolic syndrome were recruited from a general hospital near Seoul in South Korea between 2010 and 2012 based on data from the medical checkup. Biochemical indices for oxidative stress and metabolic markers were measured. Food consumption data from 3-day food records were linked with the antioxidant capacity database for commonly consumed Korean foods to estimate individual's TAC. Results: Average dietary TAC of the study subjects was 132.0 mg VCE/d/1,000 kcal in men and 196.4 mg VCE/d/1,000 kcal in women. Levels of ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase (GGT), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and blood triglycerides were reduced significantly according to increasing TAC in men, but there was no significant trend in women. Intakes of total flavonoids and carotenoids were significantly negatively correlated with GGT (p < 0.05) and d-ROMs (p < 0.01) in men, whereas those of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (p < 0.05) and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol (p < 0.05) were positively correlated with biological antioxidant potential (BAP) in women. The odds ratio of high oxidative stress indices and abnormal metabolic markers according to TAC level were not significant in either men or women. Conclusion: The results show that dietary TAC was partially associated with oxidative stress and metabolic markers among patients with metabolic syndrome. Further research is required for elucidating the association between dietary TAC and incidence of metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases within a large population in prospective studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.787-795
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• 2021

Eupatorium chinensis var. simplicifolium (EUC) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Young sprouts of EUC have been used as food for a long time, and the whole EUC plant has been used as an herbal remedy in oriental medicine. Arteriosclerosis, or chronic inflammation in arterial vessels, is a cardiovascular disease and is involved in various disorders. Cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis and neuropathic hyperplasia are mainly caused by abnormal growth and movement due to multiple growth factors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a mitogen released from damaged vessel walls and is involved in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. To determine the effects of EUC on the abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs, the present study investigated intracellular signaling pathways in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs treated with and without EUC. Pretreating PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs with EUC tended to effectively decrease cell proliferation and migration. Subsequently, the intracellular growth-related signaling pathways of AKT, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-γ), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were investigated using western blotting to confirm inhibited phosphorylation. Furthermore, flow cytometry data showed that EUC blocked the cell cycle of VSMCs. These results suggest that EUC can inhibit the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by controlling the cell cycle and growth factor receptors. Furthermore, this indicates that EUC can be used as a preventative against cardiovascular disease resulting from abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.280-294
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of social capital characteristics, socio-demographic characteristics, physical condition, and health behavior characteristics on health-related quality of life of the elderly in Korea. Methods: T-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis were performed by applying a complex sample design to 57.787 people aged 65 and over using the 2019 Community Health Survey. Results: First, as a result of complex-sample T-test and ANOVA analysis, it was found that there were differences in health-related quality of life according to social capital characteristics, physical condition & health behavior characteristics, and socio-demographic characteristics. Complex Sample Regression Analysis Results, the explanatory power of the model was 28%. When living in the metropolitan area, living in an apartment building, having a spouse, having a higher household income, economic activity, higher educational attainment, increase sleeping time, walking time, frequent binge drinking, health checkup, networking, trust, and social participation showed higher health-related quality of life. When people were older, their gender was female, higher BMI, number of chronic diseases, and severe stress that showed lower health-related quality of life. Conclusions: It was proved that the factors affecting the health-related quality of life of the elderly are not only physical condition and health behavior factors, but also social capital and socio-demographic characteristics. It was found that the role as a member was important.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2019

Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Among immune cells, macrophages are crucial players in a variety of inflammatory responses to environmental conditions. However, it has been widely reported that macrophages cause chronic inflammation and are involved in a variety of diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. In this study, we report the suppressive effect of proanthocyanidins via the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-related system, on the immune response of the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Increased HO-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels were found in proanthocyanidins-treated RAW264.7 cells. Further, proanthocyanidins enhanced nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without proanthocyanidins, and inflammatory mediator expression levels were assessed. Proanthocyanidins treatment resulted in the attenuation of nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, was inhibited by proanthocyanidins treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings support proanthocyanidins as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.371-382
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses following acute and chronic Nurida-ball exercise to measure the relative exercise intensity and health-related fitness in middle-aged men. In study 1, eight middle-aged men carried out acute Nurida-ball exercise for 30 min. The physiological responses were normalized and compared with a graded treadmill exercise test (GXT) to evaluate the relative exercise intensity. In study 2, twelve middle-aged men were divided into two groups: Nurida-ball exercise group (NB, n=6) and control group (CON, n=6). NB group performed the Nurida-ball exercise for 8 weeks (30min/day, 3 days/week). And then, we measured the body composition, cardiovascular factors, blood lipid factors, and muscle damage markers to confirm the exercise efficiency. In study 1, the related exercise intensity of acute Nurida-ball is the range of GXT-HRpeak (55~85%) and $GXT-VO_2peak$(23~61%). The change in body fat-related factors was significantly lower in the NB compared to the CON group. Moreover, TC and LDL were decreased whereas BMC was increased in the NB group after Nurida-ball exercise. The change in VEpeak and performance time of GXT were significantly greater in the NB compared to the CON group. The performance time of GXT was increased in the NB group after Nurida-ball exercise. Our results indicated that Nurida-ball exercise would be effective equipment for the improvement of health-related fitness. Especially, Nurida-ball exercise can affect body composition and cardiovascular function, which might alleviate metabolic syndrome-related diseases in middle-aged men.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.570-579
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• 2019

Diabetes is one of the serious chronic metabolic diseases caused by Westernized eating habits, and the goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose at a normal level and prevent diabetic complications. This study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of a mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) extract (MWE) on hyperglycemia in an animal model with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into three groups: diabetic control, rosiglitazone, and MWE. The mice supplemented with MWE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin when compared with the diabetic control mice. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with MWE than in diabetic control mice. MWE supplementation significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and Akt, and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in insulin signaling pathway of skeletal muscles. Eventually, MWE increased the expression of the plasma membrane glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) via PI3K/Akt activation. These findings demonstrate that the increase in plasma membrane GLUT4 expression by MWE promoted the uptake of blood glucose into cells and relieved hyperglycemia in skeletal muscles of diabetic C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice. Therefore, mealworms are expected to prove useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes, and further studies are needed to improve type 2 diabetes in the future.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2021

Recently, phytochemicals in whole grains have received increasing attention because the increased consumption of whole grains and whole grain products has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. Among the phytochemicals in whole wheat, arabinoxylan influences various physiological activities and can aid the treatment of numerous health conditions, either directly or indirectly. In this study, 614 wheat germplasms, collected from the world, were cultivated in 2018 and harvested in 2019 in South Korea. The qualities of these whole grains, including seed protein content, were evaluated using the NIR spectrophotometric method, and arabinoxylan content was determined using enzymatic methods. The ash content was 0.36 to 2.80% and protein content was 7.66 to 20. The SDS-sedimentation for gluten complex ability ranged from 26.85 to 80.63 mL, and protein content showed a high correlation with SDS-sedimentation in the germplasms. Verify the result of the enzymatic method of arabinoxylan, the reliability of the experimental method was determined through repeatability, reproducibility, and recovery. The average value of the 614 resources was 51.64 mg/g of whole grain, and when classified according to the country of origin, the South Korean origin resources tended to have a higher content compared to the genetic resources of other countries. These results are expected to be used as basic data for setting standards for whole grain quality in wheat breeding systems.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.179-198
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined general characteristics, health status, accessibility to medical services, health-related quality of life, dietary behavior, and energy and nutrient intakes of the elderly at different levels of food security utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Methods: The elderly subjects (1,721 males and 2,271 females) were divided into 3 groups (secure, mildly insecure, moderately/severely insecure) according to their food security levels. Health and nutrient status was determined using energy intake, nutrient density, the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake, dietary behavior, and health status. Results: The elderly with food insecurities had a lower self-evaluated health status and a higher prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis for males, and hypertension, stroke, arthritis, and osteoarthritis for females. The associated financial burden was the major reason for not accessing medical services in the food insecure group. Furthermore, the food insecure group had a higher risk of impaired health-related quality of life compared to the secure group. The proportion of subjects with an energy intake below the estimated energy requirement was higher in the food insecure group and a significantly higher prevalence of insufficient intake was observed for all the nutrients (proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, and iron) assessed in this study compared to the food secure group. Conclusion: This study suggests that food insecurity poses a challenge to the health and nutritional status of the elderly population in Korea and needs proper management. It would be helpful to develop food and nutrition assistance programs to ensure the food stability of the elderly population and assure quality to address gaps in their nutrient intake.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2022

Riboflavin and its derivatives, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), are key components of mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxidation-reduction reactions. Proposed dietary reference intakes for Koreans (KDRIs), that is, estimated average requirements (EARs), for riboflavin, based on current knowledge of riboflavin and riboflavin derivative levels, and glutathione reductase activity, are 1.3 mg/d for men aged 19-64 years and 1.0 mg/d for women aged 19-64 years. By applying a coefficient of variance of 10%, reference nutrient intakes (RNIs) were set at 1.5 mg/d for men aged 19-64 years and 1.2 mg/d for women aged 19-64 years. Likewise, EARs and RNIs of riboflavin intake were proposed for all age groups and women in specific life stages such as pregnancy. Mean adult riboflavin intake for adults aged ≥ 19 years was 1.69 mg/d in Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2020, which was 124.9% of EAR according to the 2020 KDRIs. In the 2015-2017 KNHANES study, the mean riboflavin intake from foods and supplements was 2.79 mg/d for all age groups, and 32.7% of individuals consumed less riboflavin than EAR according to the 2020 KDRIs. For those that used supplements, mean intakes were 1.50 mg/d for riboflavin from foods, 10.26 mg/d from supplements, and 11.76 mg/d from food and supplements, and 5.5% of individuals consumed less riboflavin than EAR. Although the upper limit of riboflavin has not been established, the merits of increasing supplement use warrant further consideration. Also, additional epidemiologic and intervention studies are required to explore the role of riboflavin in the etiology of chronic diseases.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2022

Aim : The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the awareness level of the mandatory employment system for the disabled and the help of the employment increase on the health status of the disabled. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to raise awareness of the compulsory employment system for the disabled and to suggest a way to improve the health of the disabled. Methods : In this study, the first data of the second wave of the 2016-2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled was used to analyze the participation of the disabled in economic activities. a total of 1,648 subjects were analyzed using the chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results : Compared to the group knowing about the compulsory employment system for the disabled, in the group who did not know about the compulsory employment system, the cognitive level was significantly higher for subjective health status (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.573, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.252-1.977) and chronic diseases (OR: 1.407, 95% CI: 1.091-1.816), Compared to the group that the compulsory employment system for the disabled is helpful in increasing employment, the group that said it was not helpful at all had depression feel (OR: 2.330, 95% CI: 1.219-4.452) and subjective health status (OR: 2.052, 95% CI: 1.232. -3.416) significantly affected. Conclusion : It was found that the lower the level of awareness and help of the compulsory employment system for the disabled, the negative impact on their health status. Therefore, it is necessary to promote employment growth by raising awareness of the employment system for the disabled. Furthermore, in order to improve the health of the disabled, public relations plans to increase the understanding of the disabled on the system and policies to protect the disabled people who lose their will to work due to difficulties in accessing employment were enacted, and Changes to a disability-friendly working environment should be activated so that participants can participate.