• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2018

Purpose: The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased among children and adolescents worldwide and is becoming an important health care problem in parallel with the increased prevalence of obesity pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Betatrophin is a newly define hormone that is commonly secreted by liver and plays role in glucose tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum betatrophin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. Methods: The study included 40 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above 95th centile, and 35 non-obese subjects with a BMI 3-85th centile, whose age and gender were similar to those of the patient group. For the evaluation of metabolic parameters fasting serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid profile and serum betatrophin levels were measured. Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were calculated as "atherogenic indices." Results: Serum betatrophin levels of the obese subjects were similar to that of non-obese subjects (p=0.90). Betatrophin levels were not correlated with the metabolic parameters. Conclusion: In the present study, levels of betatrophin are not different between obese and insulin resistant children and non-obese subjects, and they are not correlated with atherogenic indices. To elucidate the exact role of betatrophin in obesity, further studies are required to identify the betatrophin receptor and/or other possible cofactors.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.806-820
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• 1996

The relationship between exercise and hone mineral density (BMD) was investigated in 153 healthy women. The BMD of lumbar spine, femur(neck, ward's triangle, trochanter) and total body was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a group subjects(65) aged 19-59 years who had been exercising(swimming or aerobic dancing) regularly for at least 2 years as well as in a similar group of nonexercising control subjects(88). Weight, height, total lean body mass(=weight-total fat body mass-bone mineral content), animal and meat Ca, Ca index, energy expenditure, BMD, PYD/Cr were significantly higher in the exercisers than the controls. There were significantly negative correlations between age, ALP and osteocalcin and BMD, but significantly positive correlations between weight, BMI, total fat body mass and total lean body mass and BMD. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that total lean body mass may be a better independent predictor to BMD than total fat body mass. The nutrient intakes were more closely related to BMD in the exercisers than the controls, but energy expenditure was more closely related to BMD in the controls than the exercisers Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that BMD was closely related to menopause, osteocalcin, age, weight in both groups but energy intake in the exercisers alone, energy expenditure in control alone. In premenopausal women, the exercisers had significantly greater BMD than the controls. But, in postmenopausal women, no significant difference between two groups was detected. When compared to BMD of the subjects with same age range to minimize the effect of age, aerobic dancing appears to be capable of exerting a positive effect on BMD in a group of subjects aged 19-44. However, no relationship of the swimming to BMD could be identified in a group of subjects aged 37-59. The results of this study suggest that the usefulness of exercisng appears to be significantly greater in preemenopausal women than postmenoparusal women and weight bearing activity, aerobic dancing is associated with increasing BMD at the weight bearing sites and could be beneficial in the prevention of bone loss. But the usefulness of swimming on bone should be further investgated.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.962-969
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• 2002

This study examined the effect of calcium supplementation and exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) and general characteristics, dietary intake and biochemical measurements for 45 healthy middle-aged women (40-57 years). Subjects were divided in to 4 groups; control group (G1), exercise group (G2), calcium supplementation group (G3), and calcium supplementation with exercise group (G4). The subjects were 45.8$\pm$ 0.66 years old. BMI(kg/$m^2$) was 23.31 $\pm$ 0.63 in Gl group, 22.92 $\pm$ 0.51 in G2 group, 23.64 $\pm$ 0.61 in G3 group, 23.40 $\pm$ 0.37 in G4 group, and BMI of all groups were in normal value. Energy intake was 1332.28㎉/day, 60% of RDA, so that may be unbalance of micronutrients. Especially, calcium intake was 62.8% of RDA that was very low level. Osteocalcine was not statistically significant but calcium supplementation group (G3) be showed increase. BMD was usually decreased by Aging, but in this study was increased in the all group, except control group. It showed increase of BMD for calcium supplementation and/or exercise. Overall results indicate that calcium supplementation and/or exercise increased BMD of middle-aged women, but long-term calcium supplementation and exercise will be able to more effect.(Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 962~969, 2002)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.469-474
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• 2014

DWP208 is a sodium succinate form of ZYM-201 which is a triterpenoid glycoside isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis, a medicinal plant prescribed for various diseases, such as duodenal ulcers and bleeding in East Asian counties. We demonstrated that this compound is able to normalize the altered lipid metabolism induced by hyperglycemia and a high fat diet. In this study, we determined whether hyperlipidemic conditions induced with chronically treated alcohol can also be restored by DWP208. Similar to our previous results, orally administered DWP208 (1 to 10 mg/kg) also ameliorated the hyperlipidemia that was induced by alcohol. This compound reversed the alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia including (i) up-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), atherosclerotic index (AI), triglyceride, and total cholesterol, and (ii) down-regulated hyperlipidemic parameters such as absolute body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum and liver. According to our data, the ameliorative activity of DWP208 is due to its indirect anti-oxidative activity as a result of which lipid peroxide and hydroxyl radical levels were reduced and the activity of SOD was enhanced. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that DWP208 can be used as a remedy against alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2016

This study was conducted to analyze soil physico-chemical properties of agricultural land composed from the river-bed sediments. We investigated the changes of soil physico-chemical properties at 30 different sampling sites containing paddy, upland and plastic film house from 2012 to 2015. pH, exchangeable calcium and magnesium decreased gradually in paddy soils during the four years, whereas the available $P_2O_5$, exchangeable Ca, Mg and EC increased in upland and plastic film house soil. For the soil physical properties, bulk density and hardness of topsoil were $1.47g\;cm^{-3}$ and 21.5 mm and those of subsoil were $1.71g\;cm^{-3}$ and 25.7 mm in paddy soils. In upland soils, bulk density and hardness of topsoil were $1.48g\;cm^{-3}$ and 15.9 mm and those of subsoil were $1.55g\;cm^{-3}$ and 16.9 mm. In plastic film house soils, bulk density and hardness of topsoil were $1.42g\;cm^{-3}$ and 14.4 mm and those of subsoil were $1.40g\;cm^{-3}$ and 18.5 mm, respectively. The penetration hardness was higher than 3 MPa below soil depth 20 cm, and it is impossible to measure below soil depth 50 cm. As these results, in agricultural anthropogenic soils dredged from river basins, the pH, amount of organic matter and exchangeable cations decreased and soil physical properties also deteriorated with time. Therefore, it is needed to apply more organic matters and suitable amount of fertilizer and improve the soil physical properties by cultivating green manure crops, deep tillage, and reversal of deep soils.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-146
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• 2017

We selected 6 plots ($100m^2$) located 2.2-3.8 km from Minamidake Crater on the north flank of Sakurajima Volcano. We conducted a field study to investigate the effects of volcanic activity on vegetation succession and surface erosion rate. The results showed that trees growing in plots further from the crater had a greater diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, and age. In addition, these plots had a greater number of woody plants and species, as well as a greater total cross-sectional area at breast height. The Fisher-Williams index of diversity (${\alpha}$) and the proportion of evergreen broad-leaved trees were higher in plots located further from the crater. Vegetation succession in these plots was not at the level of a climax forest. From 1972 to 2015, the timing for active volcano, the depth of volcanic ash layer, the dry density, and the pH of ground surface were lower for plots located further from the crater. Furthermore, the average annual sheet erosion from 1972 to 2015 was also lower for plots located further away from the crater. Overall, plots further away from the crater have a better environment for vegetation growth and a lower dry density of the volcanic ash surface layer. It is thought that lower dry density results in increased soil permeability, which impedes surface flow. In order to prevent debris-flow disasters, caused by mud and rock flow resulting from impaired soil penetrability, it is essential to promote soil development and restore penetrability by artificial vegetation restoration.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-87
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• 1989

It is well known that the glucocorticoid induces osteoporosis by suppression of the osteoblast, but its effect on the osteoclast hRS some controversy whether it activates or suppresses the osteoclast. If the calcitonin, which is known to suppress the osteoclast, prevents the osteoporosis by glucocorticoid, then the suppression of the osteoclast by the glucocorticoid is not so significant. And if the calcitonin increases the osteoblastic activity, Tc-99m MDP uptake will be increased in spite of the glucocorticoid effect on the osteoblast. The immobilization operation was performed to the right leg of male Wistar rats weighing about 200gm. each. For 16 weeks after operation, rats were injected glucocorticoid alone or glucocorticoid anci calcitonin. The bone density was measured by means of photodensitometry under reference aluminum step wedge and Tc-99m MDP uptake was available to the index of the osteoblastic activity. 1. The bone density of femora! head was markedly reduced than that of femoral shaft following ration of cancellous and cortical components in both site. 2. Glucocorticoid caused decrease in bone density of spine and femur, md there is significantly increase of it when medication of glucocorticoid and calcitonin injection simultaneously than that of glucocorticoid. 3. Tc-99m MDP uptake was revealed significant reduction in medication of glucocorticoid but increase in gi;.:cocorticoid and calcitonin injection simultaneously in later experimental period. 4. There wail, a slight reduction in plasma osteocalcin in medication of glucocorticoid through experimental periods and an increase in its value in case of giving glucocorticoid and calcitonin simultaneously in later experimental period. From these results, we suggest that osteoporosis by immobilization is more pronounced by glucocorticoid hormone and osteoporosis induced by immobilization and glucocorticoid use is prevented by calcitonin administration with increasing osteoblastic activity.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2012

The primary factors of the LOS(Line-of-Sight) analysis process are terrain height, camera capacity, and canopy cover. The canopy cover rate differs depending on the changing season, and its value is influenced by the tree density, tree height, and etc. This study generated the canopy cover value based on relationship between NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and DMT(Density Measure % of Tree/Canopy Cover), which is a digital map attribute, and then performed the LOS analysis on six station of test sites. As results, It was found that NDVI and DMT are correlated with each other through the experiments. Based on this finding, new DMT map can be generated using NDVI. Also, There is a difference between the result of visibility analysis using the present DMT and one using a new DMT. Especially, the spatial distributions of the detected visible areas are significantly different between the two visibility analysis results.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2017

This study identified an effective control method for periodontitis by investigating the association between blood levels of vitamin D and periodontitis in Korean elderly based on raw data from the fifth Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey of 2010 (KNHANES). In this study, 1,021 adults over 65 years of age were evaluated based on data from the KNHANES. Periodontal disease was assessed using community periodontal index (CPI), with CPI codes ${\geq}3$ defined as periodontitis. Blood levels of vitamin D were measured from blood samples and divided into four groups (first quartile: ${\leq}13.23ng/ml$, second quartile: 13.24~16.95 ng/ml, third quartile: 16.96~21.58 ng/ml), and fourth quartile >21.59 ng/ml). Using multiple logistic regression analyses, the variables were adjusted for general characteristics, oral health-related characteristics, health-related characteristics, and bone mineral density. The statistical analysis was performed using the SAS (ver. 9.2). The results of this study are as follows: the prevalence of periodontitis was 42.6% in Korean elderly. After adjusting for general, oral health-related, and health-related, the risk of periodontitis in the first quartile group was 1.74 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02~2.98) higher than that of the fourth quartile group (p=0.041). After adjusting for general, oral health-related, and health-related characteristics as well as bone mineral density, the risk of periodontitis in the first quartile group was 1.73 times (95% CI, 1.02~2.96) higher than that of the four quartile group (p=0.042). There was a significant relationship between blood vitamin D level and periodontitis in Korean elderly. For the prevention of periodontitis, factors related to vitamin D should be considered along with other risk factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4965-4969
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• 2015

LCN2 (Lipocalin 2) is a 25 KD secreted acute phase protein, reported to be a novel regulator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Up regulation of LCN2 had been observed in multiple cancers including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. However, the role of LCN2 promoter methylation in the formation of microvessels is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of LCN 2 promoter methylation with microvessel formation and tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer patients. The LCN2 promoter methylation status was studied in 64 breast cancer tumors by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Evaluation of microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 cell proliferation index was achieved by immunohistochemical staining using CD34 and MIB-1 antibodies, respectively. LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was observed in 43 (67.2%) of breast cancer patients whereas LCN2 methylation status was seen in 21 (32.8%). Further, LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and elevated mean MVD in breast cancer patients.