• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.641-647
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated the effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens extract (CFE) and its active compound, pheophorbide A (PhA), on diabetic kidney failure. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg body weight (BW)). After a week, the rats were orally administered CFE (4 and 20 mg/kg BW) or PhA (0.2 mg/kg BW) once a day for 9 weeks. After scarification, renal tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histochemical analyses. Our study showed that the treatment with CFE and PhA significantly decreased lipid peroxidation level and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase (p<0.05), but it increased glutathione level and the activities of glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the renal tissues (p<0.05). The CFE- and PhA-treated rats with DM showed improved histochemical appearance and decreased abnormal glycogen accumulation. Therefore, we suggest that PhA-containing CFE could exert renal protective effects against STZ-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.365-374
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• 2018

This study investigated the relationship between Vitamin D levels and indices related to cardiovascular disease in Korean adults aged ${\geq}19years$. The data for analysis were obtained from the sixth Korea National Health Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013 and 2014. The results showed that the incidence of Vitamin D deficiency was 73.1% among Korean adults and that indices related to cardiovascular disease showed an increasing trend (55.6% of Korean adults). The relationship between Vitamin D levels and indices related to cardiovascular disease with controlled physical activity status was also studied. The odds ratios (ORs) for age were 1.72 for the 4-62 years age group (95% CI, 1.53-1.93) and 2.05 for the ${\geq}65years$ age group (95% CI, 1.71-2.45). For blood pressure, the OR for pre-hypertension was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.15-1.47) and that for hypertension was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.11-1.54). For body mass index (BMI), the OR was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.11-1.66) and that for waist circumference (WC) was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.11-1.66). For fasting blood sugar (FBS), the OR for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was 1.37 (95% CI, 1.21-1.55) and that for diabetes mellitus (DM) was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.05-1.65). The OR for total cholesterol (TC) was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.11-1.52) and that for triglycerides (TG) was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.04-1.37) in Korean adults. There was a significant relationship between Vitamin D and indices related to cardiovascular disease in Korean adults with respect to age, blood pressure, FBS, BMI, TC and TG. Confirmation of a causal relationship between Vitamin D and indices related to cardiovascular disease may require further research consisting of more systematic cohort studies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.414-421
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• 2008

Background: Recently, in addition to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has become rapidly growing public health threat. This study examined the clinical differences between pulmonary TB patients with extensively drug resistance (XDR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) at the National Medical Center in Korea in order to determine the clinical characteristics associated more with XDR-TB than MDR-TB. Methods: Patients who received a diagnosis of culture-confirmed pulmonary TB and a drug sensitivity test (DST) for anti-TB drugs at the National Medical Center between January 2000 and August 2007 were enrolled in this study. The patients were identified into the XDR-TB or MDR-TB group according to the DST results. The clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively from the medical records. Statistical analysis for the comparisons was performed using a ${\chi}^2$-test, independent samples t-test or binary logistic regression where appropriate. Results: A total 314 patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB were included. Among them, 18 patients (5.7%) had XDR-TB and 69 patients (22%) had MDR-TB excluding XDR-TB. A comparison of the clinical characteristics, revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection for the treatment of TB (odds ratio [OR], 3.974; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.052~15.011; P value 0.032) and longer average previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs, including a treatment interruption period prior to the diagnosis of XDR, than the MDR-TB group (XDR-TB group, 72.67 months; MDR-TB group, 13.09 months; average treatment duration difference between two groups, 59.582 months; 95% CI, 31.743~87.420; P value, 0.000). In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs was significantly associated with XDR-TB (OR, 1.076; 95% CI, 1.038~1.117; P value, 0.000). A comparison of the other clinical characteristics revealed the XDR-TB group to have a higher frequency of male gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), age under 45, treatment interruption history, cavitations on simple chest radiograph and positive result of sputum AFB staining at the time of diagnosis of XDR. However, the association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Pulmonary TB patients with XDR have a higher frequency of a prior pulmonary resection and longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs than those with MDR. In addition, a longer previous treatment duration with anti-TB drugs is significantly associated with XDR-TB.