• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2010

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) differentiate into astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes, which is controlled by various factors in brain. Recent evidences suggest that small molecules modulating the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs may have therapeutic value as well as the potential use as chemical probes. Phylligenin is a lignan with anti-inflammatory activity that is isolated from the fruits of Forsythia koreana. We investigated effects of phylligenin on proliferation and differentiation of NPCs. Treatment of phylligenin decreased the number of proliferating NPCs in culture without effects on the differentiation and survival of neural cells such as neurons and astrocytes. To examine the mechanism of the decreased NPCs number, we performed cell cycle analysis. Proliferation of NPCs was decreased via G1-S transition block by phylligenin treatment, and it was mediated by the increase of p21 level. However, phylligenin did not induce apoptosis of NPCs as determined by TUNEL assay and PARP cleavage. We also found that viability of glioma cell lines such as C6 and U87MG glioma cells, but not that of primary neuron and astrocyte, was inhibited by phylligenin. These results suggest that phylligenin selectively inhibits proliferation of rapidly growing cells such as neural stem cells and glioma cells. Given that the possible role of brain tumor stem cells in the pathology of brain cancers, the inhibitory effects of phylligenin might be useful in the development of new therapeutic agents against brain cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to explore socio-economic factors as determinants of food behavior and self-evaluation on meeting dietary guidelines. The data were derived from the KNHANES collected in 2007. A multidimensional framework of the determinants of food behavior was used, including age, gender, region, occupation, education, income and nutritional knowledge. The determinants of food behavior and self-evaluation were estimated by ordered logistic regression models. Food behavior was measured by dietary diversity scores including six food groups, which were cereals, vegetables, meats, fruits, milk, and oils. Self-evaluation on meeting dietary guidelines was based on responses from questionnaires for implementing Korean dietary guidelines. In general, the respondents who fulfilled all criteria were few. There were some differences between dietary diversity scores and self-evaluation on meeting dietary guidelines. Age, gender, and educational level showed effect on food behavior and self-evaluation. For dietary diversity scores, the individuals who were younger male, graduated from college were more likely to consume more various foods. The individuals who were older female, graduated from high school were more likely to meet dietary guidelines. Occupation was associated only with self-evaluation. Age and gender were associated with food behavior as well as self-evaluation. Income and marital status were associated only with dietary diversity scores. Reading food label and occupation were associated only with self-evaluation. The food behavior of married individuals was less in line with the dietary diversity scores than singles. In conclusion the differences between objective measure and subjective measure on individuals' diet showed more efforts like segmented nutritional education would be needed to increase the quality of dietary life.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2006

This study was aimed at investigating hepatic toxicity and immunomodulating effects of defatted methanol extracts of two kinds of medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidz. in mice. Defatted methanol extracts of fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. and rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. were added at the level of 0.5% or 5%(w/w) to cholesterol-supplemented AIN-76 diet. Each diet was fed to 8 ICR male mice for 30 days. Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the mice fed 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. were significantly lower than those of the mice fed 0.5% extract Relative liver weight and activity of plasma alanine aminotransfernse were significantly increased only in the mice fed 5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with the others. Splenocyte proliferation was not significantly different between the groups fed 0.5% or 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. However, splenocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in the mice fed 5.0% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with that in the mice fed 0.5% Production of interleukin-2 by splenocytes from the mice fed 0.5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Miq. was significantly higher than the control value and it became lower with 5.0% dietary level. Secretion of $interferon-\gamma$ was not significantly different among groups. In conclusion, the defatted methanol extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. was likely to exert immunomodulating effect at the level of 0.5% but it may exert adverse effects on immune and liver functions at the level of 5.0%.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.558-573
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the main sources of dietary sodium and potassium intake in Koreans by gender, age and regions. Methods: We used the data from 2010-2012 KNHANES. A total of 20,387 subjects aged 8 years and older were included. Intakes were compared by gender, age (8-18, 19-49 and >50 years) and geographical regions in Korea. Dishes were classified into 28 dish groups based on cooking methods. Statistical analysis was performed by using the SAS 9.3 and SUDAAN 11.0.1 software. Results: The mean sodium intake of Koreans was $4866.5{\pm}35.9mg/day$, which was 2.4 times higher than the adequate intake (AI) of sodium for Koreans. We found that daily sodium intakes were significantly different by age, gender and regions. Men and aged over 50 years had significantly higher sodium intake than women and other age groups. The mean potassium intake in Koreans was $3002.2{\pm}19.4mg/day$ and daily potassium intakes were significantly different by age, gender and regions. Women and age 50 years and over had significantly higher potassium intakes than men and other age groups. The average Na/K ratio was $2.89{\pm}0.01$ and was highest in men and in the age group of 19-49 years. The major sources of dietary sodium were soup and stew, followed by Kimchi, noodles and dumpling, pickled vegetables and seasonings, which represented 63.1 % of total sodium intakes. Soup and stew or Kimchi were the primary sources of dietary sodium intake. The major sources of dietary potassium were cooked rice, followed by soup and stew, Kimchi, fruits and beverages. Conclusions: Sodium and potassium intakes and the major sources of those were significantly different by gender, age groups and regions. Therefore, different approaches based on gender, age and regions are needed to decrease sodium intake and increase potassium intake.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2007

The fruit rot of pumpkin caused by Sclerotium rolfsii occurred sporadically at Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Korea in 2004 and 2005. The typical symptom of the disease included water-soaking, fruit rotting and wilting. White mycelial mats were spread over infected fruits and then sclerotia were formed on the lesions and near soil surface. The sclerotia were globoid in shape, 1$\sim$3 mm in size and white to brown in color. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation was at $30^{\circ}C$ on PDA and the hyphal width ranged from 4 to 8 ${\mu}m$. The typical clamp connections were observed in the hyphae of the fungus grown on PDA. On the basis of mycological characteristics and pathogenicity to host plants, this fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report on the fruit rot of Cucurbita spp. caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2009

In 2008, leaf rot and blight on pepper seeding ("Dokya-chungchung") occurred in a pepper farm at Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. The typical symptom is water-soaking and dark brown leaf blight at edges and tips of leaves. The fungal colonies isolated from infected tissues were pinkish at first and turned gradually to gray. Conidia were fusiform, non-septum, and $8.1-17.0{\times}2.0-3.8{\mu}m$ in size. Several specific PCR primers derived from the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA, such as CaINT, CgINT and CcINT were used for the identification of the fungal pathogen. The C. acutatum-specific primer CaINT was amplified single fragment of 496 bp that discriminated C. acutatum from the other species. The pathogenicity test was performed on seedlings and fruits of red pepper. On the basis of the morphological, molecular characteristics and pathogenicity test, we identified as Colletotrichum acutatum. This is the first report on leaf rot and blight on pepper seedling caused by C. acutatum in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.324-336
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to examine the changes of food and nutrient intakes of college students between 1999 and 2009. Dietary survey of 169 college students was conducted by a 24-hour recall method for three days in 2009. Food and nutrient intakes in 2009 were compared with the data from 106 students collected by the same methods in 1999. The intakes of cereals & grain products and vegetables in 2009 were lower than those of 1999, but the intakes of meats, eggs, milk & milk products, and manufactured food were higher. The intake of rice per person decreased greatly from 452.2 g in 1999 to 351.4 g in 2009 in males, and from 306.9 g to 237.2 g in females. While the intakes of protein, fat, thiamin, niacin, vitamin $B_6$, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and cholesterol were significantly higher, the intakes of dietary fiber were significantly lower in 2009 compared to 1999 both in males and females. The nutrients consumed less than the Recommended Intakes were vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, and calcium in males and additionally folate, iron, and zinc in females in both 1999 and 2009. The ratio of carbohydrate, protein and fat as energy was 61 : 15 : 24 and 60 : 14 : 26 in 1999, and 54 : 16 : 30 and 56 : 15 : 29 in 2009 in males and females respectively, showing that carbohydrate intake decreased and fat intake increased greatly. Our data suggest that nutrition education is necessary for college students to help them consume more vegetables and fruits and less fat and cholesterol.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.973-987
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the eating habits and food preferences of elementary school children belong to multi-cultural families and ordinary families. The data were obtained by interview based on questionnaire from November to December in 2012. The subjects of multi-cultural families and ordinary families were 99 and 376 children, respectively. In comparison with eating habits, the ordinary children showed higher scoring in the items of eating proteins, green and yellow vegetables, and fruits or fruit juice than those of multi-cultural children. The ordinary children ate less midnight-meals than those of multi-cultural children (p<0.05). Furthermore, the ordinary children ate kimchi more frequently than the multi-cultural children. It was significantly different (p<0.05) on the items of 'eating-out types' dietary habits between two groups. Education of mothers correlated with the ordinary children's eating habits more than multi-cultural families. In the investigation of the food preference to Korean foods, 'beef and radish soup', 'pumpkin porridge', and 'wheat flakes noodles' were more preferred by children of ordinary families than by those of multi-cultural families (p<0.05). To conclude, nutritional education for their parents should be done and maintained to keep a right eating habit of children of multi-cultural families even at home.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.594-606
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• 2015

Acculturation may manifest dietary behavioral changes of students from overseas. This study investigated the dietary attitudes, food intakes, and dietary behaviors of 121 Chinese college students residing in Busan, Korea. Using a focus group interview and structured survey, subjects were divided into two groups (SG, LG) based on their self-rated acculturation status. The SG (n=70) and LG (n=51) groups consisted of participants that had resided in Korea for shorter than 18 months versus 18 months or longer, respectively. The SG group was more likely to point out the taste of Korean foods as being too sweet, salty, and spicy but less greasy. A food frequency questionnaire was developed to assess normal intake of Korean ethnic, Chinese ethnic, and common foods. The LG group consumed more Korean foods such as rice cake, dried laver, and radish kimchi but less Chinese foods such as bread glue ball and kidney bean. The LG group consumed more salty and fatty foods and Korean liquors, whereas the SG group consumed more fruits and noodles. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, the SG group showed significantly higher scores for "dietary regularity" but lower scores for "indulgence of unhealthful food" factors. In summation, the LG group became more accustomed to Korean foods and adopted less desirable dietary behaviors compared with the SG group. Findings suggest that the residential period of Chinese college students may be associated with their self-rated acculturation status and food acculturation process, and therefore tailored nutrition education programs are needed to support Chinese students' healthier dietary behaviors and food acculturation process.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.213-216
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• 2011

Gray mold symptoms were frequently observed on green twigs, blossoms, leaves, and fruits of blueberry trees grown in greenhouses in Cheongyang, Dangjin, Daejeon, and Jeju during disease survey in eight locations of Korea from 2007 to 2010. The disease symptoms were not observed in the fields of the other locations investigated. The disease incidence ranged 1~30% in the greenhouses investigated. A total of 27 single spore isolates of Botrytis species were obtained from the gray mold symptoms, and all the isolates were identified as Botrytis cinerea based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. Four isolates of the fungus were tested for pathogenicity to leaves of four varieties of blueberry trees by artificial inoculation with conidial suspensions. All the tested isolates caused gray mold symptoms on the leaves, which were similar to those observed in the greenhouses. This is the first report that B. cinerea causes gray mold of blueberry trees grown in greenhouses in Korea.