• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2022

We aimed to investigating the effects of metformin (MET) in combination with alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on hormonal and biochemical parameters, in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This experimental pilot study with a randomized design was carried out on 40 PCOS women in two groups: (1) MET group, administered 1,500 mg/day MET, and (2) MET (1,500 mg/day)+ALA (1,800 mg/day) group. Drugs were administered from the third day of the previous cycle until the day of oocyte aspiration (six weeks of treatment in total). MET+ALA significantly increased the number of maturated oocytes and the rate of fertilization when compared to the MET group. Combination MET+ALA could increase significantly the number of oocytes retrieval and the number of good-quality embryos. Also, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level decreased significantly in the MET+ALA group and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level increased significantly in the MET+ALA group compared to the MET group. Also, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly lower in the MET+ALA group. The pregnancy outcomes showed no significant difference in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live births between the control and study groups. The combination of MET+ALA treatment could moderate the complications of PCOS and subsequently improve oocyte and embryo quality.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2010

Tight control of blood glucose is the most important strategy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of Welsh onion on fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia. Inhibitory activities of hot water extracts from the green stalk and white bulb, which are the edible portions of the Welsh onion, and the fibrous root extract against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase were measured in vitro. To study the effects of Welsh onion on postprandial hyperglycemia, a starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) or acarbose (50 mg/kg) was administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after an overnight fast. Postprandial plasma glucose levels were measured and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. To study the hypoglycemic effects of chronic feeding of Welsh onion, five-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing either Welsh onion fibrous root extract at 0.5% or acarbose at 0.05% for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Fasting plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin were measured. Compared to the extract from the edible portions of Welsh onion, the fibrous root extract showed stronger inhibition against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, with an $IC_{50}$ of 239 ${\mu}g/mL$. Oral administration of Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) and acarbose (50 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental plasma glucose levels 30-120 min after oral ingestion of starch as well as the area under the postprandial glucose response curve, compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the Welsh onion group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01), and were not significantly different from those fed acarbose. Thus, we conclude that the fibrous root of Welsh onion is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2006

Backgrounds : Depression has been prevalent in women and maintaining optimal glycemic control is an important goal of diabetes management. Although depression is common in adults with diabetes, its relationship to glycemic control remains unclear, espacilly in Korean women. The current study examined the relationship of depressive symptomatology with glycemic control in Korean women. Methods : Beck depression inventory (BDI), $HbA_{1c}$ as an index of long-term glycemic control, fasting glucose level and body mass index (BMI) were measured in sample of 4,567 women of whom 4.7%, 216 women had diabetes, and the relationship between depression and glycemic control was analyzed. BDI Scores of 16 and above is a cut off point to indicate possible clinical depression. Results The frequency of depressed women (p<0.001) and the mean score of BDI (p<0.001) were significantly higher in diabetic women. The mean level of $HbA_{1c}$ (p<0.01) and fasting glucose (p<0.05) were higher in depressed women. There was a graded relationship between the percentile of depressed women and a degree of glycemic control impairment (p=0.001). Conclusion : The current study found the relationship of depressive symptomatology with glycemic control in Korean women. This relationship may be mediated by decreased self-care behaviors or by neurobiological dysregulation. Improving identification and treatment of depression in women with diabetes might have favorable effects on diabetic outcomes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.407-412
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• 2008

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of nonalcoholic fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors for adult men (n=2976) and women (n=2442) who were over 19 years old, after excluding the HBsAg(+) or anti-HCV(+) patients and the men and women with increased alcohol intake (men: 40g/week, women: 20g/week). Results: Compared with the normal liver subjects, the nonalcoholic fatty liver subjects showed a significantly increased frequency of abnormal systolic blood pressure (${geq}120mmHg$), fasting blood sugar (${\geq}100mg/dL$), total cholesterol ($({\geq}200 mg/dL$), triglyceride ($({\geq}150mg/dL$), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40 mg/dL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol ($({\geq}130g\; m/dL$) and abdominal obesity in men, and all these measures were significantly increased in the women except for abnormal HDL cholesterol. After adjusting for the body mass index, age, smoking, exercise and a nonalcoholic liver, the odds ratios of an abnormal waist hip ratio were 1.35(95% Confidence Interval=1.05-4.72) in the mild fatty liver, 1.61 (1.19-2.18) in the moderate fatty liver, 2.77(1.57-4.92) in the severe fatty liver compared with a normal liver. The adjusted odds ratios for abnormal fasting blood sugar were 1.26(1.03-1.53) in the mild fatty liver, 1.62(1.27-2.06) in the moderate fatty Iiver and 1.77(1.12-2.78) in the severe fatty liver. The adjusted odds ratios for abnormal triglyceride were 1.38(1.11-1.72) in the mild fatty liver, 1.73(0.33-2.24) in the moderate fatty liver and 1.91 (1.17-3.10) in the severe fatty liver of men. Adjusted odds ratios for abnormal triglyceride were 1.50(1.04-2.15) in mild, 1.71(1.07-2.68) in moderate, 1.81(0.69-4.38) in severe fatty liver of women. Conclusions: The nonalcoholic fatty liver subjects had more cardiovascular risk factors compared with the normal liver subjects. Thus, prevention and treatment of the nonalcoholic fatty liver is necessary by lifestyle modifications such as restriction of alcohol intake, no smoking, exercise and adequate eating habits.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.129-144
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• 2002

We investigated anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and its major constituent, ginsenoside Re, in obese diabetic C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract for 12 days. On Day 5, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to vehicle-treated mice $(156{\pm}9.0\;mg/dl\;vs.\;243{\pm}15.8mg/dl,$ P<0.01). On Day 12, the extract-treated ob/ob mice became normoglycemic $(137{\pm}6.7\;mg/dl)$ and had significantly improved glucose tolerance. The overall glucose excursion during the two-hour intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), calculated as area under the curve (AUC), decreased by $46\%$ (P<0.01) compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice. Glucose levels of lean mice were not significantly affected by the extract. The improvement in blood glucose levels in 150 mg/kg extracttreated ob/ob mice was associated with significant reduction in serum insulin levels of fed and fasting mice. Consistent with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study revealed a more than 2-fold increase in the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in treated ob/ob mice $(112{\pm}19.1\;vs.\;52{\pm}11.8{\mu}mol/kg/min$ for the vehicle group, P<0.01). In addition, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice, but not the lean mice, lost significant weight (from $51.7{\pm}1.9g\;on\;Day\;0\;to\;45.7{\pm}1.2$ on Day 12, P<0.01 compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice), associated with a significant reduction in food intake (P<0.05) and a very significant increase in energy expenditure (P<0.01) and body temperature (P<0.01). A 12-day treatment with 150 mg/kg Panax ginseng berry extract also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels in ob/ob mice. Additional studies demonstrated that ginsenoside Re, a major constituent of the ginseng berry, but not from the root, plays a significant role in anti-hyperglycemic action. This anti-diabetic effect of ginsenoside Re was not associated with body weight changes, suggesting that other constituents in the extract have distinct pharmacological mechanisms on energy metabolism. The identification of a significant anti-hyperglycemic activity in ginsenoside Re may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agent.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.319-327
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between obesity and dieting to dental care in a convergent manner. This is a secondary analysis study using data from National Health and Nutrition Survey(2008 & 2018), and the subjects of the study are those with permanent treatment experience. The data in this study were t-test, ANOVA and regression analysis using SPSS /WIN 24.0. As a result of the study, The experience of permanent tooth caries according to gender was high in woman(M=.76, W=.83), and the experience of permanent tooth caries according to the educational level showed that the caries experience of high-educated level(College or higher=.92). In the difference according to the subjective body type recognition, it was confirmed that obesity was associated with the experience of permanent tooth caries. Among the weight control methods, fasting was the most influential on the permanent tooth caries experience. The experience of permanent tooth caries according to the weight change was found to have an effect on both weight loss and increase, In future studies, not only studies of sugar intake related to obesity, but also proper oral health education study that informs about the risk of dental caries in the diet that is progressing in line with the current trend should be continued.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

Objective : This study considered the annual cyclical rituals related to medicine in an effort to look into the general medical conditions in the late Joseon Dynasty. Method : This study selected Uibanghappyeon 'Wolhaeng' as its research material in that it reflects the medical conditions at that time as a writing in the late Joseon Dynasty, and it's a record about annual cyclical rituals included in a medical book. The annual cyclical rituals are possible to analyze from various angles, but this study perceives the fundamental elements forming the annual rituals as (1) the time when a ritual was held (2) purpose, (3) method, and analyzed the calendaric rituals by dividing them according to the three elements. Result : There appear 97 sorts of annual rituals period in all according to their contents in Uibanghappyeon 'Wolhaeng.' (1) the case of directly suggesting a specific day like May 5 was found to be the most with 46 cases on the basis of the character of the implemented time, followed by the part (16 cases) with the sexagenary cycle like the Day of the Ox. (2) From the aspect of the purpose, the case of aiming at preventing diseases was found to be the most with 24 cases, and the case of expressing 'having to do like that' without any clear reason, or 'that would be better' was found to be the third-most 19 cases. In a broad sense, should these two be perceived as disease prevention, these statistics accounted for a half of the whole with 43 cases. Meanwhile, the style of rituals whose purpose was disease treatment(22 times) was to make a medicine on a specific day. Among the 22 sorts related to disease treatment, 16 sorts were the custom of making medicine on a designated day. (3) When classified from the aspect of methods, they can be divided into pharmaceutical preparations(23 cases), specific behavior(20cases), taboo(19 cases), taking medicine(15 cases), fasting(11 cases) and external medical treatment(9 cases), etc. This shows a comparatively even distribution rather than the case of dividing the annual rituals into a period or purpose. Conclusion : Medicine is the knowledge for preventing and treating diseases. However, the medical science and medical treatment of a traditional society show not a little difference from what we feel. The research on the annual cyclical rituals related to medicine is expected to be helpful to our perception of such a difference.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1580-1584
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• 2004

On the basis of the widely collected fork prescriptions, long clinical practice of himself, together with integration of all the good points of earlier medical specialists, 孫思邈 wrote 『千金方』 of thirty volumes. Among them Volumes 『食治』 (Food Therapy) and 『養性』(Cultivating the Character) are especially meaningful for in gerontology. Thirty years after its completion, as a supplement, he wrote another thirty volumes of 『千金翼方』. Mr. Sun integrated his discoveries in the treatments of the aged patients, and his opinions for longevity into the Volumes 『養性』 (Cultivating the Character), 『?穀』(Fasting), 『退居』(Retirement), 『補益』(Supplementation). Thus he laid down the basic foundation for the gerontology of Chinese medicine. 『千金要方』 and 『千金翼方』 by Mr. Sun discuss mainly the prevention of illness for aged patients. As for the function of food therapy, he explains: 'Food can dispel evil elements of the body and settle down its organs. It can further bring pleasure to man's spirit and help the circulation of blood and breath.' He then propose the major method of food therapy: 'For a medical doctor, he should understand the causes of disease, then treat it with food. Only after the food treatment fails, medicine is employed.' He thinks that medicine does work in treatment, but it also creates imbalance in the body, and makes the latter vulnerable to outside harms. Therefore, a good doctor is the one who cures the disease and bring pleasure to the patient with food. He stresses that food therapy is always a priority. Mr. Sun prefers animal's organs in the food therapy for aged. For example, he uses powder of sheep's kidney to treat the lumbago. He suggests the viewpoint of 'Curing man's organs with animal's organs' and 'Strengthening man's organs with animal's organs,' and sets the theoretical foundation of 'Organic Treatment.' Mr. Sun's gerontology and food therapy received further development latter. The prescriptions contained therein had been widely used in 王懷隱's 『太平聖惠方』 and 陳直's 『養老奉親書』, both in the Song Dynasty. Eventually they had become a science of food therapy for aged patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2015

Polycan originating from Aureobasidium pullulans is mostly composed of β-1, 3/1, 6 glucans and possesses an anti-osteoporotic effect. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine the efficacy and safety of the polycan on bone biochemical markers in healthy perimenopausal women. Sixty subjects were randomly allocated to 2 groups-group 1 received 400 mg of polycan and group 2 received placebo-these were administered once daily for 28 days. Fasting blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was change in osteocalcin (OSC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP). Changes in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), C-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (CTx), N-telopeptide of collagen cross-links (NTx), and deoxypyridinoline (DPYR) were the secondary outcomes. A safety assessment was performed using adverse event (AE) and laboratory data. After 4 weeks of polycan treatment, OSC, DPYR, and BALP levels changed (P < 0.05) significantly from baseline in both groups. However, no significant differences were observed in any markers between the 2 groups, except for P (P < 0.05). Interestingly, group 2 showed a significant increase in CTx (65.2%, P < 0.05), while CTx in group 1 slightly increased (17.2%). Both groups showed no significant differences in AE. Although 4 weeks of polycan treatment did not have a statistically significant effect on bone metabolism biomarkers, increases in CTx were modestly inhibited by polycan. Further studies in a large population and longer treatment periods are needed to confirm the effect of polycan on bone turnover.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.679-683
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• 2006

The effects of dried and fermented guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf extracts on blood glucose levels were investigated in low-dose streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Fermented guava leaf extract (500 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose levels after 2-4 weeks of treatment and improved the impaired glucose tolerance in STZ-induced diabetic mice. On the other hand, dried guava leaf extract lowered the blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance two weeks after treatment, but exacerbated STZ-induced high blood glucose levels three and four weeks after treatment. Histological and immunohistochemical observation showed that fermented guava leaf extract treatment improved STZ-induced pancreatic beta-cell damage, but dried guava leaf extract did not affect the damage to the beta-cells. These results suggest that fermented guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf extracts improve the hyperglycemia by protecting the pancreatic beta-cells hom damage in STZ-induced diabetic mice.