• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.711-720
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The diet is an important route of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, few studies have investigated the association between dietary intake and EDC exposure levels among Koreans. In an earlier study, we showed that the bioactivity of serum aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands (AhRLs) could be a surrogate biomarker to indicate exposure to EDCs and that they inhibit mitochondrial function. We also found that the mitochondria-inhibiting substances (MIS) in serum ascertained by intracellular adenosine triphosphate (MIS-ATP) and reactive oxygen species (MIS-ROS) levels could be biomarkers of exposure to EDCs, as they showed a strong correlation with AhRL and the levels of EDCs in the blood. Here, we investigated the association between the consumption of specific foods and surrogate serum biomarkers for EDCs, namely AhRL, MIS-ATP, and MIS-ROS, among middle-aged Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 1,466 participants aged 45-76 yrs from the Ansung cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were included. Food consumption, including that of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, was measured using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Fish intake was positively associated with AhRL (β = 0.0035, P = 0.0166), whereas cruciferous vegetable intake was negatively associated with AhRL (β = -0.0007, P = 0.0488). Cruciferous vegetable intake was positively associated with the MIS-ATP levels (β = 0.0051, P = 0.0420). A higher intake of fish was significantly associated with an increased risk of high AhRL (tertile: odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 1.08-2.06; P for trend = 0.0305). In addition, the second-highest tertile of cruciferous vegetable intake had lower odds of high AhRL than the lowest tertile (OR, 0.73; 95% CIs, 0.54-0.97), although no significant linear trend was observed. CONCLUSION: Consumption of different types of foods may be differentially associated with EDC exposure in middle-aged Korean adults.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.11-24
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects of Artemisia capillaris(A. capillaris) using a model of hyperlipidemic rats induced by poloxamer-407. Methods: Rats were previously treated by A. capillaris water extract, and intraperitoneally injected by poloxamer-407 to induce hyperlipidemia. Parameters of serum lipid and oxidative stress biomarkers were determined. Results: 1. A. capillaris ameliorated the elevation of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and MDA level. 2. A. capillaris ameliorated the reduction of serum TAC and SOD activities. 3. A. capillaris ameliorated the reduction of serum GSH and GSH-reductase level. Conclusions: According to these results, A. capillaris can be used to treat hyperlipidemia or as basis for making new drugs for treating hyperlipidemia in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2887-2889
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• 2012

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

Laminitis is a common horse disease that causes pain and disability. One of the major causes of laminitis is carbohydrate overload, which leads to the overgrowth of gram-positive bacteria and subsequent toxemia. This study was performed to establish an experimental model of acute phase laminitis. A horse was fed with a bolus dose of oligofructose, examined for clinical signs and blood parameters, and euthanized for necropsy and histopathology. After administration, the horse exhibited clinical signs including watery feces, inappetence, severe lameness, pyrexia and tachycardia. Complete blood count showed increased hematocrit, lymphocytosis and neutropenia. Serum chemistry revealed hyperglycemia, hyperproteinemia, high level of glutamic oxalate transaminase, creatinine, uric acid and mild hyponatremia. Histologically, the lamina tissue was edematous with mild infiltration of inflammatory cells. These findings indicate that oligofructose-induced laminitis in horse is an appropriate model for studying pathogenesis of acute phase laminitis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 1999

This study was designed to develop biomarkers of coastal pollution using biochemical indices of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) by changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the serum and cholinesterase activities in brain membranes. For this purpose acetylcholiesterase (AChE) activity, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity, LDH/AChE ratio and LDH/BChE ratio of cultured flounders at 5 different sites on the southern coast of Korea were compared to those of wild flounders caught in the Pohang, eastern coast of Korea as a control group. Relatively high LDH activities were measured in the serum of flounders cultured on the southern coast of Korea (0.101-0.145 unit) than those in the Pohang control group (0.093 unit). AChE activities were significantly low $(about\;10-20\%)$ in brain membranes of cultured flounders compared to those in the Pohang control group. The ratios of LDH/AChE and LDH/BChE were consistently higher $(136-178\%,\; 155-214\%)$ in cultured flounders than those of Pohang control group. Thus, we propose that the ratios of LDH/AChE and LDH/BChE in flounders could be applicable for the diagnosis of marine pollution.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2010

Objective : The etiology and pathogenesis of moyamoya disease remain unclear. Furthermore, the definitive diagnostic protein-biomarkers for moyamoya disease are still unknown. The present study analyzed serum proteomes from normal controls and moyamoya patients to identify novel serological biomarkers for diagnosing moyamoya disease. Methods : We compared the two-dimensional electrophoresis patterns of sera from moyamoya disease patients and normal controls and identified the differentially-expressed spots by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of flight mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results : We found and analyzed 22 differently-expressed proteomes. Two proteins were up-regulated. Twenty proteins were down-regulated. Complement C1 inhibitor protein and apolipoprotein C-III showed predominantly changed expressions (complement C1 inhibitor protein averaged a 7.23-fold expression in moyamoya patients as compared to controls, while apolipoprotein C-III averaged a 0.066-fold expression). Conclusion : Although our study had a small sample size, our proteomic data provide serologic clue proteins for understanding moyamoya disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2023

This study aimed to examine the effects of several essential oils on insomnia in dementia patients following transdermal treatment (aromatherapy). The mean change rates (%) of sleep biomarkers were compared between the single essential and jojoba (vehicle) oil massage groups in this study. The lavender (L) essential oil massage group demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean change rate (%) of 24-h urinary free cortisol, whereas the valerian (V) essential oil massage group demonstrated a significant increase in the mean change rate (%) of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine. In addition, a significant increase in the mean change rate (%) of 24-h urinary norepinephrine was observed in the chamomile (C) essential oil massage group only. Based on these results, valerian, lavender, and chamomile oils were mixed in different ratios to produce blending oils A (L:C:V=2:2:1), B (L:C:V=3:1:1) and C (L:C:V=1:3:1). The highest level of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine was observed after administering blending oil A. These results suggest that blending oil A might possess therapeutic effects against insomnia. Overall, it is hypothesized that the optimally blended essential oil will produce synergic effects when combined with hypnotic drugs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavones are expected to improve menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis in women. However, their efficacy is still inconclusive, and there was limited data for postmenopausal women in South Korea. We examined the effects of soy isoflavones on climacteric symptoms, bone biomarkers, and quality of life in Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used. Eighty-seven participants who had undergone natural menopause were randomly administered either 70 mg/day isoflavones (n = 43) or placebo (n = 41) for 12 weeks. We assessed the Kupperman index for climacteric symptoms and the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire for quality of the life. Biomarkers of bone metabolism were also measured in serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), N- and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type Ι collagen (NTx, CTx), and urine-deoxypyridinolin (u-DPD). RESULTS: Scores of the Kupperman index were decreased in both the isoflavones group ($-7.0{\pm}15.8$, P = 0.0074) and placebo group ($-6.3{\pm}14.6$, P = 0.0064) during the intervention, but no significant difference was noted between the groups. Regarding the bone formation markers, the level of serum BALP increased by $6.3{\pm}4.1%$ (P = 0.004) and OC increased by $9.3{\pm}6.2%$ (P < 0.001), meanwhile those of the placebo were not changed. For the bone resorption markers, NTx, CTx, and u-DPD were not significantly different in either group. MENQOL was significant decreased in the isoflavone group ($-0.6{\pm}0.5$) and placebo group ($-0.6{\pm}0.4$), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.0228). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that 70 mg isoflavones supplement has beneficial effects on bone formation markers; however, it showed no benefit compared to the placebo on climacteric symptoms or quality of life.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2006

The effects of the erect bipedal stance exercise on bone mass and the biomarkers of bone formation and resorption were investigated in rats. Five-week old rats were assigned into control and exercise groups. The rats of exercise group were weight-bearing-trained for 13 weeks in the cage designed to adjust progressively the height from 26.5 cm to 31.5 cm to force the rats rising an erect bipedal stance for feeding and drinking. There was no significant difference in food intakes between two groups. But body weight gain was significantly increased in control group. The lengths of femur, tibia, humerus and radius were significantly longer in control group than exercise group, but the femur and tibia weights per body weight were significantly higher in exercise group than control group. Also the breaking force of femur and tibia in exercise group were higher than control group significantly. The calcium contents of femur and tibia were significantly increased in exercise group than control group. The activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and the osteocalcin contents of serum (the biomarkers of bone formation) in exercise group were higher than control group, but the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1CP) contents of serum did not show any difference between two groups. However the urinary deoxypridinolin (DPD) excretion, biomarker of bone resorption, was significantly lower in exercise group than control group. From these results, it has been indicated that the erect bipedal stance exercise enhanced the density and the strength of femur and tibia by increasing biomarkers of bone formation and suppressing a biomarker of bone resorption in rats.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2019

We report highly sensitive detection of myocardial infarction biomarkers, such as myoglobin and cTnI, within several hundred seconds using a rotating-analyzer ellipsometer and a biosensor with biochips fabricated on a $SiO_2$-coated tilted silicon substrate. We choose the running buffer to be pure phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 10% mixed human serum. When we choose the running buffer to be pure PBS, we obtain diagnostic densities of pure myocardial infarction biomarkers of up to 1 ng/ml and 5 pg/ml respectively. Meanwhile, when we use PBS with 10% human serum, the measured densities of myoglobin and cTnI were up to 1 ng/mL and 1 pg/mL respectively. The measured diagnostic densities are less than 1/15 and 1/80 (in cases of myoglobin and cTnI respectively) of those referenced by the World Health Organization.