• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.1093-1099
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• 2006

Purpose : Homocysteine is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The deleterious effects of homocysteine included endothelial dysfunction, arterial intimal-medial thickening, wall stiffness and procoagulant activity. However, the precise mechanism responsible for homocysteine release in children with coronary artery disease is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum homocysteine and tumor necrosis $factor(TNF)-{\alpha}$ levels and identify whether these levels had any association with the development of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease(KD). Methods : Serum homocysteine and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels were measured in 24 KD patients(group 1, eight patients with normal coronary artery; group 2, 16 patients with coronary artery lesions) and 21 controls(group 3, 10 afebrile controls; group 4, 11 febrile controls). Blood samples were drawn from each study group before and after intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) therapy and in the convalescent stage. Results : The homocysteine levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3, and in group 2 than in group 3 and 4. The $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels before IVIG therapy were significantly higher in group 2 than group 3 and 4. Serum homocysteine and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels were highest in group 2 before IVIG therapy. In the acute KD patients, serum homocysteine levels correlated significantly with $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels. Conclusion : The increased serum homocysteine levels in the acute stage increase the susceptibility to coronary arterial lesions in KD. $TNF-{\alpha}$ may also play an important role in the formation of coronary arterial lesions in KD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1018-1027
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrients intake and health-related behaviors in elderly people residing in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk who have no problem in daily living. Information on general characteristics of the elderly, health-related behaviors and dietary habits were obtained by interview based on questionnare. Dietary nutrients intake data were obtained through the 24 recall method. The subject group of this study was composed of 113 males and 112 females, the average age being $73.1\pm6.06$ years old. In health related factors, $76.9\%$ of subjects exercised regularly. The rates of alcohol drinking and smoking showed to be $38.2\%\;and\;22.2\%$, respectively. There were many elderly with neuralgia, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disease, especially female were worse. Average heights of the subjects were lower than the standard established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances, and average weights were similar to the standards. The mean BMI and WHR were 24.8 (male 23.7, female 25.7) and 0.92 (male 0.92, female 0.89), respectively. Most of the subjects had a regular meal pattern comsuming three meals a day, and many elderly, especially more than $79.5\%$ of female, prepared the meals for themselves. Mean daily energy intakes and RDA percentage of energy intakes of the male and female subjects were estimated as 1426.9kcal $(79.3\%)$ and 1381.3 kcal $(86.3\%)$, respectively. Mean daily intakes of nutrients were estimatied as 48.1g for protein, 411.3mg for calcium, 8.05mg for iron, 541.8 R.E. for vitamin A, 0.84mg for vitamin $B_1$, and 0.79mg for vitamin $B_2$. Most nutrients except protein, clacium, iron and vitamin $B_2$ were consumed over $75\%$ of the RDA. Female elderly showed significant lower intakes (p<0.05) for most of the nutrients except calcium, phosphorus and vitamin ethan the elderly male.