• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2012

To evaluate age and gender differences in the relation of cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis from aged people using by a cross sectional method. Sixty-nine healthy elders living in the community who had not previously undergone carotid ultrasonography were included. We conducted life style surveys, and cognitive function tests including Korean-mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and clinical dementia rating-Korean. Various biomarkers from blood were assessed; fasting insulin-like growth factor-1, lipid-profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total homocysteine, glucose, insulin, Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance index, vitamin B12, and folate level. Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and plaques were measured using carotid ultrasonography and aortic ultrasonography, a valid index of atherosclerosis. For the elderly subjects (aged 65-82 years), cognition impairment was more prevalent in females while subclinical atherosclerosis was more prevalentin males. Increased C-IMT has been kept in males, and C-IMT shows increasing trend and the peak at about 80 year-old in females with increasing age. The significant correlations between C-IMT and many vascular risk factors including age, triglyceride, abnormal homocysteinein male, and K-MMSE, insulin, HOMA index and abnormal aortic ultrasonography in female were different in each gender, with the exception of homocysteine (p<0.05). This data suggests that there were differences of age and gender characteristics in terms of subclinical atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors in community-living elders. Further larger and longitudinal studies across entire age are required to better understand the effects of risk factors on subclinical atherosclerosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.370-375
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• 2009

Purpose : The risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular disease in Turner syndrome (TS) patients is high. We analyzed metabolic factors in adults with TS and evaluated the metabolic risk of insulin resistance. Methods : Forty-three adults with TS were enrolled. The frequency of MS and the values of the metabolic factors were analyzed. Patients were divided into insulin resistant and non-resistant groups according to values of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The correlations of HOMA-IR with metabolic parameters were analyzed. Results : The frequency of MS was 7% and those of each metabolic parameter were as follows: insulin resistance, 16.3%; central obesity, 15.4%; hypertriglyceridemia, 2.3%; low HDL cholesterol, 9.3%; hypertension, 36.8%. The insulin-resistant group had significantly higher values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HOMA-IR, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) than the non-resistant group (P<0.05). HOMA-IR showed a significantly positive correlation with BMI, WC, FPG, and SBP and showed a negative correlation with HDL cholesterol. Conclusion : This study suggests that adults with TS have a high risk of metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance is correlated with metabolic factors. Therefore, TS patients should have their metabolic parameters monitored regularly to minimize metabolic complications and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.425-434
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• 2018

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes. This study was conducted to examine the relevance between nutrition intake, meal quality, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Koreans with metabolic syndrome. The 2,536 subjects, aged 19~64, who participated in 2015 National Nutrition Survey were included in this study. The 24-hour recall method was employed to analyze nutrition intake and dietary quality. Subjects were grouped into either the non-metabolic syndrome group (n=1,938) or the metabolic syndrome group (n=598). Total males and females were divided into 3 groups according to the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level to study its relationship to metabolic syndrome and its components, including odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI). Results showed the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value was higher in the metabolic syndrome group (3.37) than non-metabolic syndrome group (1.57) (p<0.001). In the Index of Nutrition Quality, males in the non-metabolic syndrome group showed higher niacin (p<0.05) than males in metabolic syndrome group. Females in the non-metabolic syndrome group had higher vitamin $B_1$ (p<0.01), vitamin $B_2$ (p<0.001), niacin (p<0.05), calcium (p<0.001), and phosphate (p<0.01). Female in the high hs-CRP group showed high OR in blood glucose component (OR 2.488, 95% CI: 1.269~4.879) and metabolic syndrome risk (OR 2.856, 95% CI: 1.292~6.314). Females in the middle hs-CRP group had high triglycerides component (OR 2.956, 95% CI: 1.920~4.551), compared to the low hs-CRP group. The study showed females with higher hs-CRP had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.640-650
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• 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an atypical member of the FGF protein family which is highly synthesized in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Depending on the expression tissue, FGF21 uses endo- or paracrine features to regulate several metabolic pathways including glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Different physiologically stressful conditions such as starvation, a ketogenic diet, extreme cold, and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to induce FGF21 synthesis in various tissues to exert either adaptive or defensive mechanisms. More specifically, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha control FGF21 expression in adipose tissue and liver, respectively. In addition, the pharmacologic administration of FGF21 has been reported to decrease the body weight and improve the insulin sensitivity and lipoprotein profiles of obese mice and type 2 diabetes patients meaning that FGF21 has attracted huge interest as a therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, understanding FGF21 remains complicated due to the paradoxical condition of its tissue-dependent expression. For example, nutrient deprivation largely increases hepatic FGF21 levels whereas adipose tissue-derived FGF21 is increased under feeding condition. This review discusses the issues of interest that have arisen from existing publications, including the tissue-specific function of FGF21 and its action mechanism. We also summarize the current stage of a clinical trial using several FGF21 analogs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

Objectives : Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal failure in the world. Mesangial cell proliferation is known as the major pathologic features such as glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis. Wiryeongtang (WRT) is a well-known traditional herbal formula as therapeutic agents for chronic edema and dysuresia of renal homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated whether WRT inhibits high glucose (HG)-induced renal dysfunction by TGF-β/Smads signal regulation in cultured mesangial cells.Methods : Inhibitory effect of WRT (10-50 ㎍/ml) on HG-stimulated mesangial cells proliferation and dysfunction were evaluated by [³H]-thymidine incorporation, Western blot, and RT-qPCR.Results : WRT significantly decreased HG-accelerated thymidine incorporation in human renal mesangial cell in a dose-dependent levels. WRT induced down-regulation of cyclins/CDKs and up-regulation of CDK inhibitor, p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 expression. In addition, HG enhanced expression of dysfunction biomarker such as collagen IV and CTGF, which was markedly attenuated by WRT. WRT decreased TGF-β1 and Smad-2/Smad-4 expression, whereas increased Smad-7 expression under HG. Furthermore, WRT inhibited HG-induced inflammatory factors level such as ICAM-1 and MCP-1 as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and intracellular ROS production.Conclusions : These results suggested that WRT may alleviate mesangial proliferation and inflammation possibly involved in renal fibrotic process, further diabetic nephropathy through disturbing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and NF-κB/ROS pathway. Thus, WRT might prove to be effective in the treatment of renal dysfunction leading to diabetic nephropathy.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.243-257
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell function of Korean adult and to examine the associations between ${\beta}$-cell function and nutrient intakes. Data were analyzed for 1,917 male and 2,885 female subjects older than 30 years using 'The Forth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009'. We calculated HOMA ${\beta}$-cell (The homeostasis model assessment of ${\beta}$-cell function) using fasting glucose and fasting insulin for assessing ${\beta}$-cell function. Subjects were divided into HHG (High HOMA ${\beta}$-cell Group) or LHG (Low HOMA ${\beta}$-cell Group) according to median of HOMA ${\beta}$-cell, and then nutrient intakes were compared between two groups. In the entire study population, HHG showed lower percent of carbohydrate intakes (p < 0.05), and higher fat (p < 0.01), percent of fat (p < 0.05), vitamin A (p < 0.05), carotene (p < 0.05) and riboflavin (p < 0.05) intakes than LHG. In addition, levels of HOMA ${\beta}$-cell were negatively correlated with percent of carbohydrate (${\beta}$ = -0.040, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with percent of fat (${\beta}$ = 0.046, p < 0.01). The subjects were then divided into two subgroups according to body mass index values, either $23kg/m^2$ (under- and normal-weight) or ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ (over-weight and obese). Significant differences of some nutrients intakes and correlations with HOMA ${\beta}$-cell were observed only in under- and normal weight subjects, but not in over-weight and obese subjects. In conclusion, high carbohydrate, lower fat and lower vitamin intakes may be related with pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction in under- and normal-weight Korean.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1261-1267
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• 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise training program and a gym-ball exercise training program on body composition, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), adipokines, and cardiovascular risk factors in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The subjects were separated into two groups, an aerobic exercise group (n=10), which practiced moderate aerobic exercise training for 12 weeks, and a gym-ball exercise group (n=13), which practiced resistance exercise training for 12 weeks. The results of the analyses are as follows: Weight, body mass index, and body fat were significantly lower (p<0.01, respectively), whereas the $VO_2$ max was higher in both groups (p<0.01). Fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR levels were significantly decreased in the gym-ball exercise group (p<0.05), whereas adiponectin, AST, and ALT levels were significantly increased (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively) in both groups after the 12-week exercise training program. In addition, our results showed that HOMA-IR, insulin, and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly lower in both groups. They demonstrate that a 12-week program of regular aerobic exercise or gym-ball exercise yields beneficial effects such as an amelioration of cardiovascular risk factors, body indices, and liver function in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2012

Yoga has been known to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was to test the effect of an 8-week of yoga-asana training on body composition, lipid profile, and insulin resistance (IR) in obese adolescent boys. Twenty volunteers with body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile were randomly assigned to yoga (age $14.7{\pm}0.5$ years, n=10) and control groups (age $14.6{\pm}1.0$ years, n=10). The yoga group performed exercises three times per week at 40~60% of heart-rate reserve (HRR) for 8 weeks. IR was determined with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). After yoga training, body weight, BMI, fat mass (FM), and body fat % (BF %) were significantly decreased, and fat-free mass and basal metabolic rate were significantly increased than baseline values. FM and BF % were significantly improved in the yoga group compared with the control group (p<0.05). Total cholesterol (TC) was significantly decreased in the yoga group (p<0.01). HDL-cholesterol was decreased in both groups (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed between or within groups for triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Our findings show that an 8-week of yoga training improves body composition and TC levels in obese adolescent boys, suggesting that yoga training may be effective in controlling some metabolic syndrome factors in obese adolescent boys.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1117-1128
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• 2021

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of 4-week health promotion intervention program consisting of high-intensity aerobic exercise to improve energy consumption and cardiorespiratory capacity, circuit training to strengthen muscular strength and endurance and education for lifestyle changes on the obesity level, physical fitness, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome among overweight or obese elementary school students. Twenty three overweight or obese children as obese group and 15 normal body weight children as normal group were recruited. The health promotion program consisted of two exercise sessions and one education session, 3days/week in 4-week. Obesity level(body mass index, waist circumference, %body fat), physical fitness(muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiopulmonary fitness), insulin resistance(homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) and metabolic syndrome risk factors(blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol) were measured. There was not significant decrease in obesity level; however, there were significant improvement in physical fitness, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome risk factors after program participation among obese children. As a result, through participation in the summer camp consisting mainly of exercise, the improvement of the physical fitness level and the decrease of insulin resistance had an effect on the reduction of the metabolic syndrome frequency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.929-937
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) (ethanol : DW=1:1, v/v) on inhibition of type 2 diabetes using an OLETF rat model via regulation of HbA1c and AGEs levels. Supplementation with ASE 0.1% and 0.5% effectively lowered levels of glucose, insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, and Homa-insulin resistance, suggesting reduced insulin resistance. Blood levels of HbA1c and AGEs were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner. As oxidative stress plays a key role in accelerating production of HbA1c and AGEs, which worsen symptoms of type 2 diabetes, levels of malonaldehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. Lipid peroxidation in both blood and liver tissues was significantly reduced, and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-${\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, which elevate production of HbA1c and AGEs, was inhibited (P<0.05). To evaluate the possible cellular events after AGEs receptor activation, genetic expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-${\delta}$ and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Supplementation with both ASE 0.1% and 0.5% significantly inhibited mRNA expression of PKC-${\delta}$ and TGF-${\beta}$, indicating that ASE may have beneficial effects on preventing insulin-resistant cells or tissues from progressing to diabetic complications. Taken together, ASE has potential to improve type 2 diabetes by inhibiting insulin resistance and protein glycosylation, including production of HbA1c and AGEs. Anti-oxidative activities of ASE are a main requisite for reducing production of HbA1c and AGEs and are also related to regulation of the PKC signaling pathway, resulting in suppression of TGF-${\beta}$, which increases synthesis of collagen, prostaglandin, and disease-related proteins.