• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.752-759
• /
• 1994

It is accepted that colostral macrophages have protective effects on gastrointestinal tract of the neonates. Macrophages act as a major defensive cells in colostrum and serve as a main source of colostral prostaglandins which are known to exert cytoprotection for gastrointestinal tract of neonates against infectious agents and drugs such as aspirin. This study was conducted to evaluate the total cell numbers and differential counts for macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in colostrum of Korean mothers. To compare the level of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, and TXB2 between colostrum and serum of postpartum mothers, radioimmunoassay adopting eicosanoids-antibody complex method was applied instead of charcoal method. The results were as follows : 1) Total defensive cell count was 7.6$\pm$2,37$\times$106 cells/ml, differential counts of macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes were 57.49$\pm$4.14%, 37.98$\pm$4.43% and 4.29$\pm$0.73% respectively. 2) The order of prostaglandin level in colostrum which are known to enhance development and cytoprotection of gastrointestinal tract, was 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, TXB2 and PGE2. Colostral PGE2 level was 584.6$\pm$72.3 pg/ml, higher than that of serum(p<0.01). 6-keto-PGF1$\alpha$, the most abundant prostaglandin in colostrum was higher than in serum level, too (p<0.01). Serum TXB2 level of postpartum mothers(n=42) was higher nine times than that of colostrum(p<0.01), which seems to cause vasoconstriction of uterus in postpartum period. 3) In preterm mothers, serum level of TXB2 level in both groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.934-942
• /
• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the influence of dietary fibers on the serum lipid level and bowel function in aged rats. Fiber sources of experimental diets were made from mugwort(M), butterbur(B), apple(A), sea mustard(S) by drying and milling. Each of fiber sources was mixed into the diet at the level of 5, 15% of diet. Sprague-Dawley strain, 13 month old male rats were divided into 9 groups by randomized complete block design : C, M5, B5, A5, S5, M15, B15, A15, S15. The animals were fed ad libitum each of experimental diets for 4 weeks. Control group showed lower food intake compare to the other groups. There were no significant difference between 5% groups and 15% groups in food intake. Fecal weight, dry fecal weight and fecal water content of control group were significantly lower than those of experimental groups, and fecal water content was increased by increasing level of dietary fibber. Apple group showed the lowest values, sea mustard group showed the highest. The shorter transit time was observed in the group of higher intake of dietary fiber. At the same level of dietary fiber, transit time of sea mustard group was shorter than the other groups. With increasing age, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol were increased and HDL-cholesterol was decreased. Fiber fed groups showed lower serum TG, TC and higher HDL-c level compare to the control group. Absorption rates of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus was tend to be lower in the group fed dietary fiber sources than control group. Mucosa weight and maltase activity in the small intestine were decreased by increasing age. As intake of dietary fiber increaed, mucosa weight in the small intestine was not different but maltase activity was decreased.

• Kosin Medical Journal
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.337-346
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker that rises after bacterial infection, and levels of PCT are known to correlate with the severity and mortality of patients with pneumonia and sepsis. However, the usefulness of PCT levels in acute pyelonephritis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the PCT level as a predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 140 patients diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis were admitted to Haeundae Paik Hospital. Serum PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels at pre- and post- treatment were measured. Blood and urine cultures were obtained from all patients. The levels of PCT, CRP, and WBCs were each compared between the blood culture-positive and blood culture-negative groups to assess their effectiveness in predicting bacteremia. Results: Pre-treatment PCT level was 0.77 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.42-1.60 ng/mL) in the blood culture-negative group and 4.89 ng/mL (95% CI: 2.88-9.04 ng/mL) in the blood culture-positive group, and the increase between the two groups was statistically significant. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT level for prediction of bacteremia was 0.728. A cut-off value of 1.23 ng/mL indicated a sensitivity of 79.0 % and specificity of 60.0 % for PCT level. Conclusions: Serum PCT level is a useful predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Through the early detection of bacteremia, serum PCT level can help estimate the prognosis and predict complications such as sepsis.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.553-557
• /
• 2008

The effects of cheonggukjang and doenjang on bone mineral density, trabecular area and cortical thickness of the tibia, and serum osteocalcin level in ovariectomized rats were investigated. After 4 weeks, bone mineral density, bone trabecular area, the cortical thickness index, and serum osteocalcin level were analyzed. The cheonggukjang and doenjang diet groups showed significant prevention of ovariectomized (OVX)-related body weight gain. Whole body bone mineral density of the OVX group was significantly lower than that of the sham group, whereas the cheonggulgang and doenjang diets resulted in complete restoration of bone mineral density. Trabecular area in the proximal diaphysis and cortical thickness in the distal diaphysis of the tibia were increased significantly in the cheonggukjang and doenjang diet fed groups. The cheonggukjang and doenjang diets significantly reduced serum osteocalcin level in the OVX rats. These results suggest that cheonggukjang and doenjang might have inhibitory effects on osteoporosis, by showing accelerated bone formation in OVX rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.933-941
• /
• 1993

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of magnesium supplement levels and periods on lipid metabolism in male Sprague-Dawley rats given low protein and magnesium deficient diets. The effect of magnesium supplement levels and periods on lipid metabolism in rats given a low protein and magnesium deficient diet for 2 weeks were investigated. Serum total lipid and triglyceride contents were significantly lower in magnesium supplement group compared with magnesium deficient group. Serum HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was significantly increased as magnesium supplement level was increased. Liver total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and phospholipid contents were significantly lower in magnesium supplement group than those in magnesium deficient group. Serum ALP, GOT and GPT activities were significantly decreased in magnesium supplement group compared with magnesium deficient group. In summary, the effect of magnesium supplement on lipid metabolism and enzyme activities were significant and we can see that magnesium supplement level propered to be requirement level(400 mg/kg diet)in the other cases except serum lipid contents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 1979

It was performed to find out the influence of duck meat on human serum cholesterol level. The duck meat was canned and given to the subjects. In case of human, the subject was divided into two groups; such as a male group and a female group. Blood sample was collected from each subject during feeding period and the serum cholesterol was determined by Bloor method. The results were as follows: 1. In the male group, serum cholesterol level was 187mg% on the initial day, 184mg% on the 3rd day, 181 mg% on the 6th day, and 178.8mg% on the 9th day after feeding period passed. 2. In the female group, serum cholesterol was 184mg% on the initial day, 181.4mg% on the 3rd day, 178.2mg% on the 6th day, and 173.8mg% on the 9th day after feeding period passed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.41-44
• /
• 1980

To evaluate the change of serum myoglobin in the thyroid disease, we measured serum myoglobin by radioimmunoassay in 24 normal subjects, 34 patients with hyperthyroidism (20 untreated, 14 treated) and 5 patients with hypothyroidism. The mean values of serum myoglobin in 24 normal control, 20 untreated hyperthyroidism, and 14 treated hyperthyroidism were $50.9{\pm}17.0ng/ml,\;39.1{\pm}20.3ng/ml\;and\;51.0{\pm}18.3ng/ml$ respectively. The serum myoglobin level of untreated hyperthyroidism seemed to be lower than that of normal control without statistical significance. The serum myoglobin levels in 5 patients with hypothyroidism ranged 28-156 ng/ml, and 3 patients showed increased serum myoglobin level. We observed one case with severe degree of thyrotoxic myopathy whose serum myoglobin level was markedly elevated initially and was decreased to normal range after treatment. This results suggests that the determination of serum myoglobin might be useful in the evaluation of thyrotoxic myopathy.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.661-673
• /
• 2015

This study examines the effects of a low-calorie raw juice diet on the level of serum ferritin in adults and analyzes nutrient intake from the diet. There were significant differences between juices; the highest calorie was provided by pear juice, highest crude protein, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 levels were from green Juice 1; and highest vitamin C and vitamin B1 levels were from fruit juices. The ratio of estimated energy requirements (EER) for the participants was 56.2% from the raw juice diet. The percentages of recommended intake (RI) from the raw juice diet of protein (57.9%), dietary fiber (19.1%), niacin (6.2%), calcium (0.1%), and magnesium (0.2%) were lower than 75%. However, those of RI of vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and vitamin C were 1796.5%, 7481.7%, 1915.5%, 30858.7%, and 7500%, respectively, exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. There were significant decreases in weight, the body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass in males and females. After the diet program, serum iron and SOD (superoxide dismutase) showed significant decreases, whereas RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum ferritin showed significant increases. There were negative correlations between serum ferritin and weight and between serum ferritin and skeletal muscle mass for all participants. There were negative correlations between serum ferritin and skeletal muscle mass for males and between serum ferritin and body fat mass for females. These results suggest that a raw juice diet can supplement a regular diet to prevent excess or deficient nutrient intake.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.57-63
• /
• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The level of serum albumin is an index of nourishment care and management. However, the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders have not been reported until now. Therefore, we examined the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 249 individuals with motor disabilities (144 men, mean age: 51.4 years; 105 women, mean age: 51.4 years) was conducted at five institutions in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 2008. The results were compared with data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: The mean serum albumin levels were $4.0{\pm}0.4g/dL$ for men and $3.8{\pm}0.5g/dL$ for women. Overall, 17 (11.8%) men and 25 (23.8%) women had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level ${\leq}3.5g/dL$); these proportions were greater than those among healthy Japanese adults (${\leq}1%$). Low serum albumin level was related with female sex, older age, low calf circumference, low relative daily energy intake, low hemoglobin (Hb), low blood platelet count, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low $HbA_{1c}$, and high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The strongest correlates, based on standardized betas, were Hb (0.321), CRP (-0.279), and HDL-C (0.279) levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia is higher in individuals with motor disabilities than in healthy individuals and that inflammation is a strong negative correlate of serum albumin levels. Therefore, inflammation should be examined for the assessment of hypoalbuminemia among institutionalized individuals with motor disabilities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8793-8796
• /
• 2014

Objective: To explore the influence of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level on therapeutic outcome and diagnosis/prognostic value in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 37 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer by biopsy were selected and treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted before treatment to assess VEGF levels, and its relationships with clinicopathological features and short-term therapeutic effects were analyzed. Results: The median VEGF level in 37 patients before treatment was 647.15 (393.35~1125.16) pg/mL. Serum VEGF levels in patients aged <50 years, in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIa~IVa, with lymph node metastasis and tumor size >4 cm were significantly increased (P<0.05). The complete remission (CR) rate was 48.7% (18/37), partial remission (PR) rate was 35.1% (13/37), stable disease (SD) rate was 13.5% (5/37) and progressive disease (PD) rate was 2.70% (1/37), so the objective remission rate (ORR) after treatment was 83.8% (31/37). Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size and serum VEGF level before treatment were independent risk factors affecting the therapeutic outcome, and the higher the level of serum VEGF, the worse the prognosis when tumor size>4 cm. Some 56.8% of patients manifested with myelosuppression, 37.8% with leucopenia, 24.3% with thrombocytopenia, 5.41% with diarrhea, 46.0% with nausea and vomiting, 21.6% with hair loss and 8.11% with hepatic and renal injury during the treatment. Conclusions: Serum VEGF level may reflect the degree of malignancy of cervical cancer and predict therapeutic effect, which is of great importance to cancer diagnosis and prognosis.