• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5261-5264
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• 2015

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of serum free-to-total prostate specific antigen ratio (%fPSA) for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in men with different serum total PSA (tPSA) categories. Materials and Methods: From January 2010 to December 2013, a total of 225 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) underwent tPSA and %fPSA measurements. Histological examination with calculation of Gleason score and whole body bone scans were performed in identified cases of PCa. Results: PCa was diagnosed in 44 (19.6%) patients and the remaining 181 patients had benign prostate disease. PCa was detected in 5 (23.8%), 13 (8.7%) and 26 (47.3%) cases with tPSA level ranges ${\leq}4ng/ml$, 4 to 10 ng/ml and >10 ng/ml, respectively. The average Gleason score was $7.2{\pm}0.2$. Some 6 (13.6%) out of 44 PCa patients had bone metastases. The sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 81.3% at the cut-off %fPSA of 15% in PCa patients with a tPSA level below 4 ng/mL. A lower %fPSA was associated with PCa patients with Gleason score ${\geq}7$ than those with Gleason score ${\leq}6$ ($11.7{\pm}0.98$ vs. $16.5{\pm}2.25%$, P=0.029). No obvious relation of %fPSA to the incidence of bone metastasis was apparent in this study. Conclusions: The clinical application of %fPSA could help to discriminate PCa from benign prostate disease in men with a tPSA concentration below 4 ng/mL.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.13.1-13.12
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• 2018

We aimed to explore whether changes in circulating levels of miRNAs according to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or prediabetes status could be used as biomarkers to evaluate the risk of developing the disease. The study included 462 patients without T2DM at baseline from the CORDIOPREV trial. After a median follow-up of 60 months, 107 of the subjects developed T2DM, 30 developed prediabetes, 223 maintained prediabetes and 78 remained disease-free. Plasma levels of four miRNAs related to insulin signaling and beta-cell function were measured by RT-PCR. We analyzed the relationship between miRNAs levels and insulin signaling and release indexes at baseline and after the follow-up period. The risk of developing disease based on tertiles (T1-T2-T3) of baseline miRNAs levels was evaluated by COX analysis. Thus, we observed higher miR-150 and miR-30a-5p and lower miR-15a and miR-375 baseline levels in subjects with T2DM than in disease-free subjects. Patients with high miR-150 and miR-30a-5p baseline levels had lower disposition index (p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively). The higher risk of disease was associated with high levels (T3) of miR-150 and miR-30a-5p ($HR_{T3-T1}=4.218$ and $HR_{T3-T1}=2.527$, respectively) and low levels (T1) of miR-15a and miR-375 ($HR_{T1-T3}=3.269$ and $HR_{T1-T3}=1.604$, respectively). In conclusion, our study showed that deregulated plasma levels of miR-150, miR-30a-5p, miR-15a, and miR-375 were observed years before the onset of T2DM and pre-DM and could be used to evaluate the risk of developing the disease, which may improve prediction and prevention among individuals at high risk for T2DM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.895-900
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• 2012

The effects of three fractions, hexane (BHHH), chloroform (BHHC), and ethyl acetate (BHHE), from water extract of Benincasa hispida on the underlying mechanisms of adipogenesis were investigated in 3T3-L1 cells. Intracellular lipid droplets were stained with Oil Red O dye and quantified. Compared to control, lipid accumulation significantly decreased by 11% and 13% upon treatment with BHHC and BHHE, respectively at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels were also reduced by 21% and 16%, respectively, at the same concentration. To determine the mechanism behind the reductions in TG content and lipid accumulation, glycerol release and expression levels of adipogenic marker genes were measured. The levels of free glycerol released into culture medium increased by 13% and 17% upon treatment with BHHC and BHHE, respectively. In subsequent measurements using real-time polymerization chain reaction, the mRNA levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, and leptin significantly decreased upon treatment with BHHE (45%, 67%, and 35%) in comparison with non-treated control. These results suggest that BHHE inhibits adipocyte differentiation by blocking $PPAR{\gamma}$, C/$EBP{\alpha}$, and leptin gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells, resulting in reduced lipid accumulation, increased glycerol release, and intracellular triglycerides.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.893-903
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Flammulina velutipes mycelium (FVM) on physico-chemical properties and nutritional components of chicken meat. Ninety-six broiler chicks (HanHyup No. 3, Korea) were divided into four groups: control (basal diet), T1 (supplemented with 1% FVM), T2 (3%), and T3 (5%). Broiler chicks in each group were slaughtered at 7 weeks of age, and their breast and thigh meat were collected. Lightness ($L^*$) and yellowness ($b^*$) in the T2 and T3 groups were higher than in the control group (p<0.05). The loss of breast meat during cooking was increased in the T1, T2, and T3 groups, and the water-holding capacity of the breast meat was also decreased in these three groups (p<0.05). The water-soluble protein solubility was lower in the T1, T2, and T3 groups than in the control group (p<0.05), but the salt-soluble protein solubility in these three groups was higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). The crude fat content of the breast meat was decreased and that of the thigh meat was increased as the level of FVM was increased (p<0.05). The unsaturated fatty acid content of the breast meat was higher in the T2 and T3 groups than in the control group (p<0.05). The free amino acid content was high in the T1, T2, and T3 groups compared to the control. In conclusion, these results showed that feeding with 3% and 5% FVM increased the L and b values in thigh meat, improved the salt-soluble protein solubility, and increased the content of unsaturated fatty acids and free amino acids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.41-48
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• 2003

Nitrogen removal rate and emergent plant growth were investigated of a free-water-surface constructed treatment wetland system, whose dimensions were 31m in length and 12m in width. The system was constructed on floodplain in the Kwangju Stream from May to June 2001. Cattails(Typha angustifolia) were transplanted from natural wetlands and their stems were cut at about 40cm height from their bottom ends. Water of the Kwangju Stream were funneled into the system by gravity flow and its treated effluent was discharged back into the stream. The average height of the cattail stems was 45.2cm in July 2001 and 186cm in October 2001. The number of stems averaged 22 stems/$m^2$ in July 2001 and 52 stems/$m^2$ in September 2001. Volume and water quality of inflow and outflow were analyzed from July 2001 through December 2001. Inflow and outflow averaged 40.01 and 39.55 $m^3$/day, respectively. Hydraulic detention time was about 1.5 days. Average nitrogen uptake by cattails was 69.31 $N\;mg\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$. Removal rate of $NO_3-N$, $NH_3-N$ and T-N averaged 195.58, 53.65 and 628.44 $mg\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$, respectively. The average removal rate of T-N was about 39%.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.178-186
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• 2006

Objective: The aim was to study experimentally the effects of Radix Scrophulariae (玄蔘) induced by Sodium levothyroxine. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats Were separated into four groups. Except for the normal group, the other three were treated with sodium levothyroxine $160{\mu}g/kg$ for 5 days. Among the three groups, two (except the control) were treated with Radix Scrophulariae extract 0.5g/kg (HNS 1) or 1.0g/kg (HNS II). $T_3-uptake,\;T_3,\;T_4$, TSH, total cholesterol, glucose, ALP, AST, ALT, free fatty acid, $\beta-lipoprotein$, and change in the serum of rats were measured after medication of solid extract of Radix Scrophulariae. Results: As a result of this study, HNS II showed significant decrease in comparison with the control in the serum $T_3-uptake,\;T_3$ ALP and free fatty acid content. HNS I and HNS II showed significant decrease in comparison with the control in the serum of $T_4$ and glucose content. HNS I and HNS II showed significant increase in comparison with the control in the serum of TSH and total cholesterol content. In body weight, HNS I and HNS II showed significant increase in comparison with the control. Conclusion: These results suggest that Radix Scrophulariae is effective to cure hyperthyroidism.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.85.2-85.2
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• 2012

In this paper, we introduce the 3D modeling of the coronal magnetic field in the solar active region by extrapolating from the 2D observational data numerically. First, we introduce a nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolation code based on the MHD-like relaxation method implementing the cleaning a numerical error for Div B proposed by Dedner et al. 2002 and the multi-grid method. We are able to reconstruct the ideal force-free field, which was introduced by Low & Lou (1990), in high accuracy and achieve the faster speed in the high-resolution calculation (512^3 grids). Next we applied our NLFFF extrapolation to the solar active region NOAA 10930. First of all, we compare the 3D NLFFF with the flare ribbons of Ca II images observed by the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) aboard on the Hinode. As a result, it was found that the location of the two foot-points of the magnetic field lines well correspond to the flare ribbon. The result indicates that the NLFFF well capture the 3D structure of magnetic field in the flaring region. We further report the stability of the magnetic field by estimating the twist value of the field line and finally suggest the flare onset mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2014

The present study compared leptin, adiponectin, and thyroid hormone concentrations in normal and obese dogs, and evaluated the association between leptin and adiponectin concentrations and thyroid function. The serum leptin, adiponectin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), and cortisol concentrations were measured in 18 normal dogs (body condition score [BCS]: 4-5/9) and 16 obese dogs (BCS: 8-9/9). Leptin and T3 concentrations were higher in the obese group than the normal weight group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). In both groups, the T3 and leptin concentrations were correlated (r = 0.370, p < 0.05), as were the TSH and fT4 and adiponectin concentrations (r = -0.373, p < 0.05 and r = 0.369, p < 0.05, respectively). In the normal weight group, the TSH and fT4 concentrations were correlated with the adiponectin concentrations (r = -0.528, p < 0.05 and r = 0.482, p < 0.05, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that leptin and T3 concentrations are significantly higher in obese dogs than normal weight dogs, and the serum T3 and leptin concentrations are positively correlated.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1325-1329
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• 2003

The preventive effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts (SMEs) on the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was studied in rats. We measured body weight and bone histomorphometry in sham, OVX or SMEs-administered OVX rats. From light microscopic analyses, a porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in OVX rats, whereas those of the same bone in sham rats and in SMEs-administered rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham rats, these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of SMEs for 7 weeks. In this study, the mechanical strength in femur neck was significantly enhanced by the treatment of SMEs for 7 weeks. In OVX rats, free T3 was normal in all cases, whereas free T4 was significantly increased. Although there was no difference between OVX and SMEs-administered rats in T3 level, we have found significant difference between them in T4 level. These results strongly suggest that SMEs are effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2011

Surimi-like samples were divided into four groups (C, surimi-like material made from Alaska Pollack with all cryoprotectant ingredients; T1, surimi-like material made from chicken breast with sugar and a sorbitol-free cryoprotectant; T2, surimi-like material made from chicken breast with a sugar-free cryoprotectant; T3, surimi-like material made from chicken breast with all cryoprotectant ingredients). Water and protein content were lower in Alaska Pollack surimi-like material (C) than those in chicken breast surimi-like material. Centrifuge loss and cooking loss were higher in C than those in chicken breast surimi-like material. Lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) was lower in T3 than others during storage. In a sensory evaluation, overall acceptability was significantly higher in C than those in other samples during storage. As a result, we found that the raw material composition (Alaska Pollack or chicken breast) had a large influence on the physico-chemical characteristics and quality of surimi-like materials, whereas cryoprotectant composition may have less influence on the physico-chemical characteristics and quality of surimi-like materials.