• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.676-680
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• 2007

This study was conduced to get consumers to use the organic food soundly and to provide useful information to researchers of organic food by investigating the consumers' recognition of organic food. The subjects of this study were the 364 housewives in Seoul area, over the age of 20. The result of this study showed that the respondents' awareness of organic food was average 3.40. And respondents recognized that organic food is healthy(4.05), expensive(3.92), had no chemical fertilizer(3.83), and clean(3.79), in order. The study also showed that only 58.8% of the respondents said that they trust organic food and the major reasons for distrust in organic foods are: it's too expensive(3.90), is no different than non-organic food(3.74), and had unfavorable reports in the media(3.36).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify dietary factors related to infertility in Korean women through a case-control study. Methods: The case group was composed of 236 women who had been diagnosed as infertility in hospital. The control group of 181 healthy women with children were recruited from local immunization centers. Socio-economic status, medical history, dietary intakes using food frequency questionnaire and stress were surveyed by interview. Anthropometric measurements were made and the causes of infertility were identified through medical records. Fasting blood samples were taken from subgroup of the subjects. Results: The mean age of infertile and control groups was 31.1 and 32.4 years, respectively and the difference was statistically significant. The mean Body Mass Index of infertile women was not significantly different from control women, however, Waist/ Hip Ratio and Triceps Skinfolds Thickness were significantly lower in infertile women than in control women. The dietary intake status was generally satisfactory in both groups. The intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, retinol, vitamin B2 and niacin were lower in infertile women than in control women. The infertile women also showed lower intakes of animal foods. No differences were found between two groups in serum concentrations of albumin, hemoglobin, Fe, TIBC, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C3, IgA, IL-2, however, infertile women showed higher levels of Zn and IgG. The stress score was higher in infertile women. Conclusions: From the results of this study, dietary factors and nutritional status do not seem to be directly related to infertility. However, the intertile women have lower nutrient intake and lower body fat content than control women. Further researches are needed according to the causes of infertility for long term to establish the relationship between dietary factors and infertility.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.492-499
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• 2021

Purpose: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine caused by an abnormal immune response to gluten proteins and is often characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. Food allergy (FA) is an adverse immune sensitivity to ingested food proteins leading to inflammation in various organs including the gastrointestinal tract. The relationship between CD and FA remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical relevance of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food sensitization in children with CD. Methods: Fifty-nine children diagnosed with CD were reviewed for clinical symptoms and evidence of IgE-sensitization to food and airborne allergens using the PolyCheck method. Results: IgE-mediated sensitization has been diagnosed in 20.3% of children with CD (CD/A). In the CD/A group, 58.3% of children were sensitized to food and 66.7% to airborne allergens. Further, 41.7% of patients with CD and allergy reported gastrointestinal tract symptoms associated with the ingestion of sensitizing foods. Analysis of the clinical status revealed that the incidence of other allergic disorders in the CD/A group was as follows: atopic dermatitis (33.3%), asthma (25.0%), and allergic rhinitis (16.7%). The percentage of eosinophils was significantly higher in the CD/A group than in the CD group (0.33±0.25 vs. 0.11±0.09; p=0.006). Conclusion: The diagnosis of CD does not exclude FA. The gastrointestinal symptoms in children with CD may be the result of both CD and FA; therefore, children with CD should be evaluated for the presence of FA regardless of age.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.489-504
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined socio-economic differences in diverse food consumption among children 6-23 months of age in South Asia and Southeast Asian countries. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys in four countries in South Asia (n = 15,749) and four countries in Southeast Asia (n = 10,789) were used. Survey-design adjusted proportions were estimated for the following 10 food items: grains, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV), vitamin A-rich fruits, vitamin A-rich vegetables, other fruits and vegetables (OFV), fish, meat, dairy, and eggs. An equity gap was defined as an arithmetic difference in the proportion of each food item consumed in the past 24-hours between the wealthiest and lowest quintiles and between rural and urban areas, denoted by percentage points (pp). RESULTS: The consumption of most of the 10 food items was higher in the wealthiest quintiles and urban areas across eight countries. The size of equity gaps was greater in Southeast Asia than in South Asia, particularly for vitamin A-rich fruits (3.3-30.0 pp vs. 0.3-19.6 pp), vitamin A-rich vegetables (12.1-26.7 pp vs. 2.4-5.9 pp), meat (17.7-33.4 pp vs. 3.4-13.4 pp), and dairy (14.7-32.5 pp vs. 3.3-11.4 pp). However, the size of equity gap in egg consumption was greater in Southeast Asia than South Asia (11.2-19.8 pp vs. 11.0-26.7 pp). Relatively narrower gaps were seen in the consumption of grains (0.3-12.9 pp), DGLV (0.6-12.4 pp), and fish (0.1-16.8 pp) across all countries. CONCLUSIONS: Equity gaps in food consumption differed by socio-economic status and region. Reducing equity gaps in nutrient-rich foods and utilizing regionally available food resources may increase child dietary quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2022

Background: Current research suggests that humans are exposed to microplastics through consumption of foods and beverages, the airway route, and a variety of other means. Objectives: We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammation from polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the neonatal liver through intragastric administration or intratracheal instillation in pregnant mice. Methods: PE-MPs were administered from gestational day 9 to postnatal day 7. The intragastric administration group (0.01 mg/mouse/day or 0.1 mg/mouse/day) and intratracheal instillation group (6 ㎍/mouse/day or 60 ㎍/mouse/day) of PE-MPs were administered. After sacrifice, the oxidative stress and inflammation of the neonatal livers were measured. Results: As a result of the oxidative stress caused by PE-MPs in the neonatal livers, glutathione peroxidase decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the intragastric administration group compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation decreased in high concentration PE-MPs. The catalase level increased at high concentrations of intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation. To confirm the level of inflammation caused by PE-MPs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factoralpha were increased compared to the control group except for intratracheal intilation-high concentration PEMPs. The C-reactive protein level was decreased by intragastric administration compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation was increased compared to the control group. Conclusions: Despite the difficulty in comparing the toxic intensity between intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation of PE-MPs, our study revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation were induced in the neonatal liver. However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxic effects of microplastics on various organs as well. Overall, the present study indicates that the evaluation of toxic effects of long-term microplastic exposure, potential of microplastic toxicity on next-generation offspring and toxicity mechanism in human should be considered for further investigations.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2022

After COVID-19, the number of people with sleep disorders around the world is increasing. In particular, in the flow of the 4th industrial revolution, the differentiation of types and characteristics of the sleep industry is accelerating. Therefore, in this study, the characteristics of each type of sleep-related industry were reclassified from an industrial point of view, and based on this, an attempt was made to review the classification system that can help companies develop sleep products and improve related national systems. Based on the 10th standard industry classification, we compared input cost, value, and usability and analyzed common characteristics, treatments, and preventive effects based on this. A comprehensive taxonomy using matrix analysis was reviewed. As a result, in terms of cost (A), the most common sleeping products are general mattresses and general bedding. It is an IOT device (auxiliary device), and the value aspect (B, B/D) included sleep cafe, bedding rental and management service, and sleep consulting. In terms of utility (A/B), a total of 6 product groups including sleep aids (health functional foods) belong to this category, and in terms of treatment (A/C), a total of 3 product groups including sleep clinics (medical services) belong to this category. As for the product group (A/D) with both properties, it was found that non-insurance sleep treatment medical devices, sleep-related over-the-counter drugs, and some sleep monitoring applications belong to this category. Ultimately, it was found that the sleep industry classification enables the most active product development and composition according to the relative relationship between cost and utility, and treatment and utility. appeared to be necessary.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2024

Obesity and overweight pose a significant public health problem, as they are associated with an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Several studies have shown that diet quality is associated with the development of MetS risk factors. Analyzing dietary patterns may be more helpful in determining the relationship between eating habits and chronic diseases compared to focusing on single foods or nutrients. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the association of food quality score (FQS) with risk factors for MetS in individuals with obesity and overweight. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 340 adults with overweight and obesity. Participants' food intake was measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire, then the FQS was calculated. A fasting blood sample assessed serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum insulin levels. Fat-free mass, height, basal metabolic rate, socio-economic score, and waist-to-hip ratio significantly differed among FQS tertiles. TC, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose were significantly lower in the highest tertile of FQS. After multivariable adjustment, our results showed that individuals in the third tertile of FQS had reduced risk of higher levels of TC (odds ratio [OR], 0.982; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.970-0.984) and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 0.974; 95% CI, 0.974-0.999). Our findings demonstrate an inverse relationship between diet quality, as measured by FQS, and MetS risk factors. However, further experimental and longitudinal investigations are warranted to elucidate the causal nature of this association.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.732-737
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• 2008

This study developed a natural ingredient as a functional food possessing properties of attenuation of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy. In a previous study hydrolysates obtained from chicken leg bone protein using Alcalase strongly inhibited angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro. In particular, hydrolysate (A4H) from four hours of incubation exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.545 mg/ml). A4H was selected as a potent ACE inhibitor and orally administrated to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for eight weeks to investigate attenuating effects on age-related development of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy. Results showed that treatment with A4H of SHRs attenuated the development of hypertension as effectively as the clinical antihypertensive drug captopril. Moreover, a significantly lower heart to body weight ratio and thinness of coronary arterial wall was observed in SHRs that had been treated with A4H or captopril. The results suggest that A4H can be utilized in developing an ACE inhibitor as a potential ingredient of functional foods to alleviate hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2009

The origin and description of the Herba Plantaginis was contemporarily analyzed (family names, scientific names, target regions, preparation, etc.) by comparison to enormous literature in addition to the external features written in the existing books on traditional Korean medicine. Also, galenical description were analyzed in connection with external morphology, internal morphology, microscopy and five senses. The official documents and ancient documents of other countries were reviewed. The technical books on herbage, published in the country and other countries, were compared with each other. Also, on-the-spot surveys were made to learn specialists' know-how. The description of the collected drugstuffs were analyzed in connection with external morphology (size, color, etc.), internal morphology and microscopy. The results of this study can be applied to the publicity and education of galenical test agencies; the effective management of foods and drugs; the improvement of public medical service; the publicity of galenical safety.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.607-611
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• 2012

Non-toxic stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs), which are central immunomodulators, may aid the prevention of cancer. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by anticancer agents contributes to the induction of DC maturation. We previously reported that extracts from $Pinus$ $parviflora$ Sieb. et Zucc pine cone and $Mucuna$ seed induce differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells into mature dendritic cells and also induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines. In the present study, we screened 31 kinds of edible beans with biological activity similar to that of extracts from pine cone and $Mucuna$ and found that the heat-stable extract from azuki bean ($Vigna$ $angula$) stimulated differentiation of bone marrow cells into immature DCs with the greatest efficacy. The level of IL-6 produced by sequential treatment of DCs with azuki extract and lipopolysaccharide was the highest among the examined beans. Azuki extract also inhibited the growth of human leukemia U937 cells, leading to induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that azuki bean and its extract are immunopotentiating foods that can be used as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and immunotherapy.