• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 1997

The following are the results of the experimental studies of Hwangki kunjoongtang and GamiHwangkikunjoongtang on the recovory of exercise induced fatigue. Hwangkikunjoongtang showed remarkable effects on the decrease of oxygen consumption, serum lactate levels, serum LDH activities, serum FFA levels, and on the increase of serum triglyceride levels. GamiHwangkikunjoongtang showed remarkable effects on the decrease of serum lactate levels, serum LDH activities, serum FFA levels and on the increse of serum triglyceride levels and serum glucose levels. According to the results, both Hwangkikunjoohgtang and GamiHwangkikunjoong-tang showed remarkable effects in the recovery of exercise induced fatigue, but GamiHwangkikunjoongtang was more effective than Hwangkikunjoongtang.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2016

Background: Vitamin D is known to have diverse effects on various systems in the body. There is evidence to suggest that a link exists between the serum vitamin D status and tuberculosis. The present study was designed to assess the alterations in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in newly diagnosed sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and to study the association, if any, between serum vitamin D levels and different levels of sputum smear positivity. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were estimated in 65 sputum AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 65 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Results: The levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in tuberculosis patients were not statistically different from the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in healthy controls. However, among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, there was a significant negative correlation between the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D and levels of sputum positivity. Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels negatively correlates with bacterial load in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.66-71
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• 1997

To investigate the effect of several factors on serum lipids in maternal and infants umbilical cord blood, 111 cases of newborn infants and women delivered of a child who had delivered at hospital located in Chung-Ju city from Feb. 1, 1996 to Aug. 31, 1996 were studied. The gestational ages of cases were 37 to 42 weeks and the average maternal ages were 28.1$\pm$4.25 years old without any other medical or obstetric problems. No relationships between maternal consumption of coffee and maternal serum lipid levels were observed. However, serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in infants'umbilical cord were significantly increased in proportion to increasing maternal consumption of coffee. The other factors such as alcohol drinking habits and residency affected maternal serum lipid levels and not serum lipid levels in infants' umbilical cord. Delivery frequency showed very little or no effects on serum lipid levels in both maternal blood and infant's umbilical cord blood. In conclusion, maternal consumption of coffee significantly correlated with increasement of serum lipid levels in infants'umbilical cord.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Background: Total thyroidectomy and postoperative radiodiodine ablation therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinomas enhance the reliability of serum thyroglobulin(Tg) levels and radioiodine scan in detecting recurrence or distant metastasis. There have been, however, some limitations in using these methods under certain conditions. Recently, several reports have indicated that thyroid peroxidase(TPO) could be used as an alternative tumor marker. We aimed to estimate the significance of serum TPO levels in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinomas and who had been followed-up for at least 3 years were classified into two groups: 27 patients without any evidence of recurrence in group 1; and 20 patients with recurrence or distant metastasis in group 2. All patients were examined by radioiodine scans. Serum Tg, TSH, antithyroglobulin antibody, and TPO were measured and the relationships were statistically analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of $^{131}I$ scan, serum Tg, and serum TPO were evaluated. Results: Serum Tg levels were $3.81{\pm}5.16ng/mL$ in group 1 and $147.02{\pm}193.75ng/mL$ in group 2. Only 2 patients in group 1 showed Tg levels exceeding 10ng/mL. In contrast, 4 patients in group 2 were under 10ng/mL. Serum antithyroglobulin antibody and TSH levels showed no statistical difference between the two groups. In group 1, 16 patients showed negative serum TPO results, and 4 patients in group 2 showed negative results. There was no correlation among serum Tg levels, antithyroglobulin antibody titers, and serum TPO levels in each group. In group 2, 4 patients with negative serum Tg levels showed positive TPO results and positive whole body scans. Two cases with false negative $^{131}I$ scans showed positive serum TPO and Tg results. In 4 cases showing false negative serum TPO levels, serum Tg levels and $^{131}I$ scans were positive. Conclusion: Serum Tg levels, radioiodine scans, and serum TPO levels can be clinically used as complementary methods in the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Serum TPO levels may be helpful when other methods fail to detect recurrences or distant metastasis in highly suspected patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.489-498
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• 1997

Recent researches suggest that carotenoids are important not only as provitamin A but also for prevention of chronic diseases. This study was conduction to determine levels and factors affecting serum levels of lutein + zeaxanthin, $\beta$-cryptoxanthin, and $\beta$-carotene in 93 adults living in rural area of Korea. Fasting blood samples were collected and serum carotenoid levels were measured by HPLC. Dietary intake was estimated by 24 hour recall method and frequency questionnare of major food groups. Mean serum concentration of lutein + zeaxanthin was 616.32 nmol/L, $\beta$-cryptoxanthin was 856.95nmol/L, and $\beta$-carotene was 242.90nmol/L. Serum $\beta$-carotene levels in study subjects were very low. Both $\beta$-cryptxanthin and $\beta$-carotene were negatively correlated with serum triglyceride and positively correlated with total-choesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Serum levels of female subjects were significantly higher than males in all carotenoids. For age groups, subjects in their 30's were shown to have the highest concentration of all carotenoids. Lutein + zeaxanthin were lowest in subjects in theri 40's while $\beta$-crytoxanthin and $\beta$-carotene levels were lowest in subjects in their 60's. The $\beta$-carotene levels in non-smokers were significantly higher than in drinkers. Lutein+zeaxanthin levels were significantly higher among subjects consuming more green and yellow vegetables by frequency questionnarie. In conclusion, serum carotenoids were affected by sex, age, serum lipids, smoking, and alcohol intake. Intake of vegetables and fruits could affect by sex, serum lipids, smoking, and alchol intake. Intake of vegetables and fruits could affect serum lutein+zeaxanthin level. This data indicated that compared to other studies, Korean adults in rural areas have high lutein+zeaxanthin concentratins and low $\beta$-carotene concentrations in serum. High lutein+zeaxanthin levels may be related to high consumption of vegetables in these subjects.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.595-604
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• 2016

It has been reported that the increased uric acid level is associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors in both male and female. However, there has not been enough studies to investigate gender differences of this association in Korea. To evaluate relation between serum uric acids and metabolic syndrome markers, anthropometric and biochemical analyses data was obtained from National Health Examination 2005 and 5,523 (M=3,097; F=2,426) data was analyzed. Results by quartile of serum uric acid levels in females showed that increased serum uric acid level was associated with elevated levels of total-. LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, whereas association between serum uric acid and total cholesterol levels was not observed in male subjects. In both female and male, higher quartile of serum uric acid level were linked with lower levels of HDL-cholesterol. In regression analysis, association of serum uric acid levels with fasting glucose levels was significant in female subjects only. In conclusion, higher serum uric acid levels were associated with metabolic syndrome indices, however gender differences were existed for total cholesterol.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2007

We examined the associations between adiponectin or leptin and serum ICAM-1 levels in seventy-six hypercholesterolemic patients (mean age 59 yrs, 25 males and 51 females, LDL-cholesterol>=130mg/dL at screening). Blood lipid profiles and HOMA-IR derived from fasting glucose and insulin concentrations were determined. Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and ICAM-1 were analyzed using ELISA The results showed that serum levels of leptin were positively associated with serum levels of ICAM-1 independent of age, sex and BMI (r=0.392, p<0.001). Serum levels of adiponectin were negatively associated with serum levels of ICAM-1 independent of age, sex and BMI (r=-0.343, p<0.005). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum leptin was an independent factor to be associated with serum ICAM-1 levels after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, alcohol intake, smoking status, blood lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and HOMA-IR (p<0.001). With respect to adiponectin, its association with serum ICAM-1 was attenuated but still significant when further adjustments were made for age, sex, BMI, alcohol intake, smoking status, blood lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and HOMA-IR (p<0.005). In conclusion, this study suggests that adiponectin and leptin are associated with endothelial derived inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.187-191
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• 2006

Serum ferritin levels are increased in subjects at-risk for or with acute lung injury (ALI), and there are observations to suggest that increases in serum ferritin levels may help predict the development of ALI in at-risk individuals. To deepen our understanding of increases of serum ferritin and their relationship to the development of ALI, we measured serum ferritin levels before and after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats, and found that serum ferritin levels increased significantly following I/R. Increases in serum and lavage ferritin levels paralleled increases in lung inflammation (lavage leukocyte numbers and tissue myeloperoxidase activities) and lung leak (lavage protein levels). In contrast, pre-treatment of rats with mepacrine (60 mg/kg, i.p.), a phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor, attenuated not only I/R-induced serum and lavage ferritin increases, but also the development of ALI. These findings indicate that, besides of human subjects with ALI, serum ferritin levels increase early on also in an animal model of ALI. Therefore, serum and lavage ferritin can be a candidate for early biomarker of ALI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2015

Purpose: Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a truncated extracellular form of the membrane transferrin receptor produced by proteolysis. Concentrations of serum sTfR are related to iron status and erythropoiesis in the body. We investigated whether serum sTfR levels can aid in diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with IDA were enrolled and were classified according to age at diagnosis. Group 1 comprised 78 children, aged 6-59 months, and group 2 comprised 20 adolescents, aged 12-16 years. Results: In group 1, patients' serum sTfR levels correlated negatively with mean corpuscular volume; hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, and serum iron levels; and transferrin saturation and positively with total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and red cell distribution width. In group 2, patients' serum sTfR levels did not correlate with ferritin levels and TIBC, but had a significant relationship with other iron indices. Hb and serum sTfR levels had a significant inverse relationship in both groups; however, in group 1, there was no correlation between Hb and serum ferritin levels. In 30 patients of group 1, serum sTfR levels were significantly decreased with an increase in Hb levels after iron supplementation for 1 month. Conclusion: Serum sTfR levels significantly correlated with other diagnostic iron parameters of IDA and inversely correlated with an increase in Hb levels following iron supplementation. Therefore, serum sTfR levels can be a useful marker for the diagnosis and treatment of IDA in children.