• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2021

Adipose tissue secretes many adipokines which contribute to various metabolic processes, such as blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, inflammation and angiogenesis. The biology of adipose tissue in an obese individual is abnormally altered in a manner that increases the body's vulnerability to immune diseases, such as psoriasis. Psoriasis is considered a chronic inflammatory skin disease which is closely associated with being overweight and obese. Additionally, secretion of leptin, a type of adipokine, increases dependently on adipose cell size and adipose accumulation. Likewise, high leptin levels also aggravate obesity via development of leptin resistance, suggesting that leptin and obesity are closely related. Leptin induction in psoriatic patients is mainly driven by the interleukin (IL)-23/helper T (Th) 17 axis pathway. Furthermore, leptin can have an effect on various types of immune cells such as T cells and dendritic cells. Here, we discuss the relationship between obesity and leptin expression as well as the linkage between effect of leptin on immune cells and psoriasis progression.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.332-342
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• 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized one of the leading metabolic diseases globally, and the younger age population with the disease is rapidly growing, especially in developed countries. Since there has been no approved medicine, losing weight is known to be the only best remedy to control or reverse the disease. Recently, the field of microbiome has attracted much attention to offer more practical choices for patients. Here, we provide experimental evidence that Streptococcus thermophilus LM1012 (LM1012), a safe probiotic strain, is effective for improving NAFLD indexes. In the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet induced C57BL/6 mouse model, administration of LM1012 promoted marked reductions of aspartate transaminase (23.8%), total bilirubin (27.8%), hydroxycholesterol (64.2%), triglyceride (29.7%) and IL-1β (68.3%) compared to the MCD diet alone group. Also, the histopathological data imply that LM1012 inhibited fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver, which are the key biomarkers for progression of the disease. Together, these findings suggest that human consumption of LM1012 as a healthy nutritional supplement, may be helpful in reducing the risk of liver damages in NAFLD patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.289-301
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• 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic airway inflammation characterized by fixed airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sputum, and dyspnea. COPD is a progressive disease characterized by a decline in lung function. During the natural course of the disease, acute deterioration of symptoms leading to hospital visits can occur and influence further disease progression and subsequent exacerbation. Moreover, COPD is not only restricted to pulmonary manifestations but can present with other systemic diseases as comorbidities or systemic manifestations, including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, sarcopenia, and metabolic abnormalities. These pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions lead to the aggravation of dyspnea, physical inactivity, decreased exercise capacity, functional decline, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. In addition, pneumonia, which is attributed to both COPD itself and an adverse effect of treatment (especially the use of inhaled and/or systemic steroids), can occur and lead to further deterioration in the prognosis of COPD. This review summarizes the long-term outcomes of patients with COPD. In addition, recent studies on the prediction of adverse outcomes are summarized in the last part of the review.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.142-152
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• 2023

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mediates the cellular antioxidant response, allowing adaptation and survival under conditions of oxidative, electrophilic and inflammatory stress, and has a role in metabolism, inflammation and immunity. Activation of Nrf2 provides broad and long-lasting cytoprotection, and is often hijacked by cancer cells, allowing their survival under unfavorable conditions. Moreover, Nrf2 activation in established human tumors is associated with resistance to chemo-, radio-, and immunotherapies. In addition to cancer cells, Nrf2 activation can also occur in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and facilitate an anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Several cancer cell-derived metabolites, such as itaconate, L-kynurenine, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, play an important role in modulating the TIME and tumor-TAMs crosstalk, and have been shown to activate Nrf2. The effects of Nrf2 in TIME are context-depended, and involve multiple mechanisms, including suppression of proinflammatory cytokines, increased expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and kynureninase, accelerated catabolism of cytotoxic labile heme, and facilitating the metabolic adaptation of TAMs. This understanding presents both challenges and opportunities for strategic targeting of Nrf2 in cancer.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2021

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic steaohepatitis is a leading form of chronic liver disease with few biomakers ad treatment options currently available. a progressive disease of NAFLD may lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, we extracted HIMH0021, which is an active flavonoid component in the Acer tegmentosum extract, has been shown to protect against liver damage caused by hepatic dysfunction. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether HIMH0021 could regulate steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis during alcoholic or nonalcoholic metabolic process. HIMH0021, which was isolated from the active methanol extract of A. tegmentosum, inhibited alcohol-induced steatosis and attenuated the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during hepatocellular alcohol metabolism, both of which promote lipogenesis as well as liver inflammation. Treatment with HIMH0021 conferred protection against lipogenesis and liver injury, inhibited the expression of cytochrome P4502E1, and increased serum adiponectin levels in the mice subjected to chronic-plus-binge feeding. Furthermore, in hepatocytes, HIMH0021 activated fatty acid oxidation by activating pAMPK, which comprises pACC and CPT1a. These findings suggested that HIMH0021 could be used to target a TNFα-related pathway for treating patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2023

An aging population and changes in dietary habits have increased the incidence of diabetes, resulting in complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs can lead to serious disabilities, substantial reductions in patient quality of life, and high financial costs for society. By understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of DFUs, their occurrence can be prevented and managed more effectively. The pathophysiology of DFUs involves metabolic dysfunction, diabetic immunopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and angiopathy. The processes by which hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage are related to adenosine triphosphate deficiency, the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, protein kinase C activity, and proinflammatory processes. In the context of hyperglycemia, the suppression of endothelial nitric oxide production leads to microcirculation atherosclerosis, heightened inflammation, and abnormal intimal growth. Diabetic neuropathy involves sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies. The interaction between these neuropathies forms a callus that leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage and skin ulcers. Hyperglycemia causes peripheral vascular changes that result in endothelial cell dysfunction and decreased vasodilator secretion, leading to ischemia. The interplay among these four preceding pathophysiological factors fosters the development and progression of infections in individuals with diabetes. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a chronic and progressive degenerative arthropathy characterized by heightened blood flow, increased calcium dissolution, and repeated minor trauma to insensate joints. Directly and comprehensively addressing the pathogenesis of DFUs could pave the way for the development of innovative treatment approaches with the potential to avoid the most serious complications, including major amputations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.1046-1058
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• 2022

The hippocampus is one of the most metabolically active regions of the brain; therefore, it may be affected by various acute disorders. This study aimed to introduce and categorize various acute conditions that can involve the hippocampus and explain the findings of MRI, especially diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Acute hippocampal disorders are divided into six categories: infection, inflammation, metabolic, ischemic, traumatic, and miscellaneous. In this study, patients were retrospectively reviewed based on clinical findings and MRI, especially DWI. All diseases had been confirmed clinically or pathologically. Many acute hippocampal disorders overlap with the clinical manifestations. Thus, it is necessary to categorize acute hippocampal lesions and understand their specific imaging findings for differential diagnosis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2012

Purpose: Acute symptomatic seizures are caused by structural changes, inflammation or metabolic changes of brain, such as tumor, stroke, meningitis, encephalitis and metabolic disorders. Inherited metabolic disorders that can cause seizures are organic acidopathies, lysosomal storage disorders, peroxisomal disorders and mineral disorders. We have done this study to find out the importance of organic acidopathies causing seizure disorders in Korean childhood and adolescent patients. Method: Retrograde analysis for 1,306 patients with seizure disorders whose clinical informations are available and have done urine organic acid analysis for 5 years period, between Jan. 1st 2007 to Dec. 31th 2011. Statistical analysis was done with Student's t test using SPSS. Result: Out of 1,306 patients, 665 patients (51%) showed abnormalities on urine organic acid analysis. The most frequent disease was mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders (394, 30.1%), followed by mandelic aciduria (127, 9.7%), ketolytic defects (81, 6.2%), 3-hydroxyisobutyric aciduria (19, 1.4%), glutaric aciduria type II (10, 0.8%), ethylmalonic aciduria (4), propionic aciduria (4), methylmalonic aciduria (3), glutaric aciduria type I (3), pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (3), pyruvate carboxylase deficiency (3), isovaleric aciduria (2), HMG-CoA lyase deficiency (2), 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria (2), fatty acid oxidation disorders (2), fumaric aciduria (1), citrullinemia (1), CPS deficiency (1), MCAD deficiency (1). Conclusion: On neonatal period, mandelic aciduria due to infection was found relatively frequently. Mitochondrial disorders are most frequent etiologic disease on all age group, followed by ketolytic defects and various organic acidopathies. The number and diversities of organic acidopathies emphasize meticulous evaluation of basic routine laboratory examinations and organic acid analysis with initial sample on every seizure patient.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.776-784
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• 2014

Korean dishes, Hansik are characterized by healthful vegetable intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of commonly consumed vegetables by Koreans on obesity/metabolic disease-related inflammation. Through statistical analysis of the KNHANES database ($1^{st}$ 1998, $5^{th}$ 2010, 2011) and a literature review, we selected vegetables for study. Among the vegetables, main or sub ingredients of Kimchi were excluded. Samples were prepared using only edible portions and freeze-dried. After grinding, samples were extracted with ethanol, evaporated and finally lyophilized. The cytotoxicity of samples was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, at various concentrations that do not affect cell viability. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 11 kinds of samples or positive control (troglitazone) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After 24 hours, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production were determined. Excepts for young pumpkin and bracken, nine samples effectively reduced NO production compared with control treated with LPS and DMSO. NO levels of five samples (bean sprouts, leeks, eggplant, mugwort, and pumpkin) were similar to that of the positive control. These five samples showed significantly decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ or MCP-1 compared to the control group. Our results suggest that consumption of commonly consumed vegetables contributes to partial prevention of obesity and related metabolic syndrome through reduction of NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, and MCP-1 production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

Leaves of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai are used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. To ensure efficient utilization of S. quelpaertensis leaf, we previously reported a preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf residue, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypouricemic potential of S. quelpaertensis leaf PRE in potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemic mice. The administration of PRE significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels and increased urine UA and creatinine levels in the PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. It also reduced liver UA levels and xanthine oxidase (XA) activity. A histological analysis revealed that PRE administration protected against PO-induced liver damage, pointing to anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. We analyzed the transcriptome response to PRE administration in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in kidney tissues. The administration of PRE mainly enriched genes involved in mediating immune and inflammatory responses and the metabolic pathway. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the metabolic pathway, purine metabolism, and antibody biosynthesis were the major pathways altered in the PRE and PO groups. These results suggest a potential role for PRE in the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia with inflammation.