• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.531-538
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the effects of garlic on uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) transcriptional regulation of UCP2-luciferase transgenic mice fed on a high fat diet to induce obesity. To examine the transcriptional regulation of UCP2, we generated transgenic mice with a UCP2 promoter (-1,830/+30 bp) containing luciferase as a reporter gene. UCP2-luciferase transgenic mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, mice were maintained on either a high-fat control diet (TG-CON), or high-fat diets supplemented with 2% (TG-GL2) or 5% (TG-GL5) garlic for a further 8 weeks. Dietary garlic reduced body weight and energy efficiency ratio in the TG-GL5 group, compared to the TG-CON group. Furthermore, garlic supplementation significantly decreased white adipose tissue fat mass and plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin in the TG-GL2 and TG-GL5 groups, compared to the TG-CON group. Specifically, UCP2 promoter activity in metabolic tissues such as liver, white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle was increased by garlic supplementation. These results suggest that dietary garlic was partially associated with an increase of UCP2 transcriptional activity in metabolic tissues for decreasing obesity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2000

Obesity is the risk factor of atherosclerosis and not only increases triglyceride concentration in blood but also decreases relatively the ratio of TG to HDL-Cholesterol in blood. In case of obesity, systolic blood pressure is also increased in responding the increase of TG in blood. Index of obesity in red ginseng-taking group (ginseng group) was lower as compared with non-red ginseng-taking group (control group). The TG concentration, the ratio of triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol in blood and systolic blood pressure were decreased in the subjects of ginseng group compared with that in control group. It is inferred that long-term intake of ginseng products may help to prevent the risk of atherosclerosis and obesity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2017

Objective: Growing evidence suggests that increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is associated with female infertility caused by conditions such as polycystic ovarian disease, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, and endometriosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether any relationship exists between CVD and unexplained infertility. Methods: Sixty-five women with unexplained infertility and 65 fertile controls were enrolled in the study. CVD risk markers such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), insulin resistance (defined by the homeostasis model assessment ratio), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed. Results: TG, TC, LDL, and hs-CRP levels were higher and HDL levels were lower in patients with unexplained infertility than in fertile controls (p<0.05 for all). Positive associations were found between unexplained infertility and TG, TC, LDL, and hs-CRP levels, and a negative correlation was found for HDL (p<0.05 for all). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TG, HDL, and hs-CRP were independent variables associated with unexplained infertility. Conclusion: Our study showed that women with unexplained infertility had an atherogenic lipid profile and elevated hs-CRP levels, suggesting a higher risk of developing CVD in the future. Further studies with larger groups are needed to investigate the nature of this link.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.414-418
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• 2012

Triglycerides (TG) are implicated in the development of atherosclerosis through formation of foam cells and induction of macrophage cell death. In this study, we report that addition of exogenous TG induced cell death in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated THP-1 human macrophages. TG treatment induced a dramatic decrease in interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) mRNA expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule remained unchanged. To identify signaling pathways involved in TG-induced downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$, we added p38 MAPK, protein kinase C (PKC) or c-Raf1 specific inhibitors. We found that inhibition of p38 MAPK alleviated the TG-induced downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$, whereas inhibition of PKC and c-Raf1 had no effect. This is the first report showing decreased IL-$1{\beta}$ expression during TG-induced cell death in a human macrophage line. Our results suggest that downregulation of IL-$1{\beta}$ expression by TG-treated macrophages may play a role during atherogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.352-357
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• 2013

This study estimates the classification criteria which distinguishes the types of omega-3 health functional foods, fish oils and fish oil usages through $^{13}C$-NMR spectra and fatty acids contents analysis. The major fatty acids of omega-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, $C_{20:5}$) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, $C_{22:6}$) are being analyzed. 10 ethyl ester (EE) forms and 10 triglyceride (TG) forms are the most common types of fish oils for 20 omega-3 products. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis generally shows the matching EPA and DHA contents of the products listed on the notation. But EE form contents of EPA and DHA are higher and are more varied than the TG form. Most of the samples of EPA/DHA ratio show different content ratios of indicated on the products when comparing with standards. The $^{13}C$-NMR analysis of EPA and DHA on sn-1,3 and sn-2 carbonyl peak position with fish oil triglycerides display whether the reconstituted triglycerides (rTG) are being confirmed or not. As a result of the 9 TG form, the 10 TG products showed similar values: EPA sn-1, 3; 13.46~15.66, sn-2; 3.00~4.52, DHA sn-1, 3; 2.43~4.40, sn-2; 3.84~6.36. But one product showed lower contents (EPA: sn-1, 3; 5.88, sn-2; 2.86, DHA sn-1, 3; 2.29, sn-2; 5.95) of EPA, thus it can be considered a different type of oil and only matched six products according to the label. This study is intended to provide basic materials which identify the status for the types and quality of omega-3 fish oil products according to fatty acids profiles and the $^{13}C$-NMR spectrum confirmed the location specificity of EPA and DHA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Seungyangjeseup-tang on obesity by using 3T3-L1 cells and high fat diet mice. Methods In vitro, Seungyangjeseup-tang extract (SYJST) (10, 50, 100, 200, 400, $800{\mu}g/mL$) ware added in 3T3-L1 cells. SYJST cytotoxicity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assasy. Adipocyte differentiation was measured by Oil Red-O staining. In vivo, the experimental animals were divided into five groups: normal diet-fed normal group (N), high-fat diet (HFD)-fed control group (Con), HFD+SYJST 100 mg/kg group (SY100), HFD+SYJST 200 mg/kg group (SY200), and HFD+olistat 60 mg/kg as a positive drug control group (Orli). Markers of obesity, such as body weight, liver weight, food intake, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), liver tissue TC, TG and fecal TC, TG were measured. Results In vitro, cytotoxicity was not significant compared with the control group. 3T3-L1 cell's differentiation was significantly decreased in Oil Red-O staining. In vivo, compared with controls, mice treated with SYJST demonstrate lower body and liver weight, and reduced food intake. In addition, SYJST increased TC, TG in the serum but not significance. And SYJST showed decreasing tendency TC, TG in the liver tissue. Furthermore, SYJST increased TC, TG in the facal but not significance. Conclusions Based on the results above, Seungyangjeseup-tang may reduce adipocyte differentiation, body fat, food intake, liver weight in obesity. This suggests that Seungyangjeseup-tang may be clinically useful in obesity treatment.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of VFA composition of rumen fluid and heat exposure (30${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$) on the general clinical view and insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep. The total infusion of nutrients was examined in sheep via the technique of continuous alimentation. Four adult Suffolk sheep fitted with a permanent ruminal cannula and a simple T-shaped duodenal cannula were used. A peristaltic pump was used to infuse the solutions of volatile fatty acid triglycerides (VFA-TG) consisting of 70 triacetin : 20 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (low propionin division: LP) and 50 triacetin : 40 tripropionin : 10 tributyrin (high propionin division: HP) on the basis of energy and minerals into the rumen, and casein solution into the duodenum. The effects of heat exposure and type of the levels of VFA-TG solutions on the insulin secretory response to glucose in sheep were investigated by using hyperglycemic clamp (HGC) technique. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. During the heat exposure (latter half of the infusion period), respiration rate, heart rate and rectal temperature increased (P＜0.01, P＜0.01, P＜0.05), but the levels of VFA-TG solutions (LP and HP division) did not affect the general clinical view except for the heart rate. 2. In the HGC technique, glucose infusion rate (GIR) and mean plasma insulin increments (MPII) tended to be ower in the heat exposure than in the thermoneutral environment, but no significant difference was found among the treatments. GIR and MPII remained unchanged between the levels of VFA-TG solutions. 3. In the HGC technique, ratio of MPII to GIR (MPII/GIR) which represents pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell response to glucose stimulation remained unchanged among the treatments.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.376-388
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• 2017

Purpose: The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is one of the main predictive indices for cardiovascular disease. This study was examined the relationship between TG/HDL-C ratio and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in male office workers. Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted to determine the risk between the TG/HDL-C ratio and MetS in male office workers. A total of 765 people underwent the 'regular workplace health checkups in 2014'. Among the subjects who were male and responded to the questionnaire and health lifestyle survey, 470 (61.4%) excluding those with missing and/or abnormal values were analyzed. The association between MetS, MetS components, and the TG/HDL-C ratio was examined by a Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, Turkey post-hoc test and Logistic regression analysis. Results: The number of males with MetS was 70 (14.9%) and the number of MetS components increased with increasing TG/HDL-C ratio (p<.001). Logistic regression analysis with an adjustment for potential confounders revealed a 31.8 times higher odds ratio of the Quartile4 group for MetS than that of the Quartile1 group (p<.001). Conclusion: These results show that the likelihood of MetS, particularly the risk of MetS in the Quartile4, increases with increasing TG/HDL-C ratio.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2018

Triglyceride (TG) is known to be associated with inflammatory disease including atherosclerosis. In a variety of atherosclerosis models, T lymphocytes are localized in the earliest lesions of atherosclerosis. T cell associated cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ have pre-dominant inflammatory effects in chronic vascular diseases. In our previous study, we found that the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and its receptor, $TNF-{\alpha}R$ was increased when Jurkat T lymphocyte cell lines were exposed to TGs. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine which cell signaling pathway are involved in the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs. To identify signal transduction pathways involved in TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, we treated TG-exposed Jurkat T cells with specific inhibitors for MEK1, PI3K, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and PKC. We found that inhibition of the MEK1 pathway blocked TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$. However, the expression level of $TNF-{\alpha}R$ did not change with any signal transduction inhibitor. Based on this observation, we suggest that increase of exogenous TG induces increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression through MEK1 pathway in Jurkat T cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs occurs via different pathways.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2003

This study investigates the effects of a raw diet (RD) on blood glucose and lipid metabolism in non-diabetic (normal) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley vats were assigned to four groups (normal control, normal RD, diabetic control, and diabetic RD), for the four-week experimental period. The control groups were fed the AIN diet and the RD groups were fed a diet consisting only of raw materials. Weight gain was statistically lower in the RD group than the control. fasting plasma glucose was significantly lower in the diabetic RD group compared to the diabetic control group. The levels of triglycerides (TG), and of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol in the plasma, were lower in the RD groups than the control groups, but not significantly. There was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of TG and TC in the livers of the diabetic RD group, compared to the diabetic control group. The fecal levels of total lipids, TG, and TC were significantly higher in the RD groups, compared to the non-RD groups. It can be postulated that this raw diet may possess substantial hypoglycemic/hypolipidemic properties in diabetic rats.