• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.196-207
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• 2009

For the estimation of prevalence state of major chronic adult disease and their relationships with drinking and smoking habits in the Korean employees, we analyzed a medical check-up data of 155,799 subjects that was accumulated during the year of 2008. In age and sex distribution of the sample, male subjects were 106,229 and female 51,827 showing the ratio of 2:1 and the majorities were 30s and 40s covering 70.7% of the total. The prevalence rates of major chronic diseases were obesity 29.8% (male 38.3%, female 12.3%), hypertension 4.1%, HBV carrier inactive 3.3%, diabetes mellitus 2.9%, hypothyroidism 1.7% (male 1.3%, female 2.4%), hyperlipidemia 1.1%, hyperthyroidism 1.4% (male 1.1%, female 2.1%), osteoporosis 1.4% (male 1.4%, female 1.4%), anemia 0.9% (male 0.3%, female 2.0%) and renal disease 0.9%. The frequency of and volume of drinking in male group were 4.6 times and 7.5 times higher than female group respectively. The 33.8% of the workers were smoking currently. In the serological tests, all the items such as AST, ALT, ${\gamma}-GTP$, LDH for liver function, Cholesterol, TG, uric acid for hyperlipidemia and BP systolic, Fasting blood sugar, BMI for metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the more drinking and more smoking groups than other groups (p<0.001). The higher prevalence rates in male group in the liver disease seems to be strongly related with the drinking and smoking habits in male employees. We suggest that employees should rather relying on leisure or hobbies than drinking and smoking for the stress relief.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.353-359
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• 1998

In gastrointestinal smooth muscle, muscarinic stimulation by carbachol (CCh) activates nonselective cation channel current ($I_{CCh}$) which is facilitated by intracellular [$Ca^{2+}$] increase. Caffeine is widely used in experiments to mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ from intracellular stores. This study shows a strong inhibitory effect of caffeine on $I_{CCh}$ in guinea-pig gastric myocyte. In this study, the underlying mechanism of the inhibitory effect of caffeine was investigated. $I_{CCh}$ was completely suppressed by the addition of caffeine (10 mM) to the superfusing solution. Inhibition of $I_{CCh}$ by caffeine was not related to the intracellular cAMP accumulation which was expected from the phosphodiesterase-inhibiting effect of caffeine. The blockade of $InsP_3-induced$ $Ca^{2+}$ release by heparin had no significant effects on the activation of $I_{CCh}$. When the same cationic current had been induced by intracellular dialysis of $GTP[{\gamma}S]$ in order to bypass the muscarinic receptor, the inhibitory effect of caffeine was significantly attenuated. The results of this study indicate that both intracellular signalling pathways for $I_{CCh}$, proximal and distal to G-protein activation, are suppressed by caffeine. A major inhibition was observed at the proximal level.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.87-98
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to measure physiological reactions of human body according to the scalp treatment, a popularized service in beauty care industry and propose efficient ways of scalp treatment. To meet the goals, total 30 applicants without any medical history(5 males and 5 females in 20's, 30's and 40's respectively) were informed on the purpose of experiment hereof and were investigated and received a 30-minute scalp treatment, which combines standardized scalp treatment massage technique proposed by KAT and ITF with another massage technique operated in the beauty salon run by the author of this paper. 5ml of blood samples were taken from each subject before and after the scalp treatment respectively and the blood sample was divided into 3 different tubes for analysis: 1) 2 ml for blood cell analysis, 2) 2ml for enzyme activity measurement, 3) 1ml for hormone level reading. In order to determine effects of scalp treatment on ALP, GOT, GPT, ${\gamma}-GTP$, WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, Platelet, MCV, MCH and MCHC, all collected data were used for measuring respective levels of these blood substances by means of enzyme reaction measurement, enzyme activity measurement and automated hematology analyzer. Then, all measured data were analyzed through paired t-test using SPSS WIN 11.5. As a result, the scalp treatment is associated with improving hepatic function, facilitating blood circulation and helping blood coagulation and hemostasis in a effective way. Therefore, it would be necessary to conduct further studies on this subject related to anemia in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2019

The transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 5 channel, known as a nonselective cation channel, has a crucial role in calcium influx. TRPC5 has been reported to be activated by muscarinic receptor activation and extracellular pH change and inhibited by the protein kinase C pathway. Recent studies have also suggested that TRPC5 is extracellularly activated by englerin A (EA), but the mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify the EA-interaction sites in TRPC5 and thereby clarify the mechanism of TRPC5 activation. TRPC5 channels are over-expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. TRPC5 mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record TRPC5 currents. Western analysis was also performed to observe the expression of TRPC5 mutants. To identify the EA-interaction site in TRPC5, we first generated pore mutants. When screening the mutants with EA, we observed the EA-induced current increases of TRPC5 abolished in K554N, H594N, and E598Q mutants. The current increases of other mutants were reduced in different levels. We also examined the functional intactness of the mutants that had no effect by EA with TRPC5 agonists, such as carbachol or $GTP{\gamma}S$. Our results suggest that the three residues, Lys-554, His-594, and Glu-598, in TRPC5 might be responsible for direct interaction with EA, inducing the channel activation. We also suggest that although other pore residues are not critical, they could partly contribute to the EA-induced channel activation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Objectives : To prove the channel-tropism theory of herbal medicines on diabetes mellitus as emaciation-thirst disease in Korean Medicine Theory, we investigated the selective therapeutic effects of Mori Cortex Radidus (MCR), Schisandrae Fructus (SF), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) for the upper emaciation on different organs in high fat and high sucrose (HF/HS) feeding-induced prediabetic mice. Methods : Diabetes in C57BL/6 mice was induced by the administration of high fat (45 kal%) and high sucrose (32 kal%) for 8 weeks, and them treated with each extract at 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks (once a day). Oral glucose tolerance test and body weight was measured once a week. Insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, ${\gamma}GTP$, GOT and GPT were measured in the sera of all mice. Histopathological changes of different organs, lung, heart, pancreas, stomach, liver, and kidney were observed by H&E staining. Results : The results revealed that MCR extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, and increased serum insulin levels in HF/HS-induced prediabetic mice. SF extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, increased serum insulin levels, and decreased serum triglycerige levels. Meanwhile, AR extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, and decreased serum levels of insulin, total cholesterol and triglycerige levels. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that MCR, SF, and AR extract as the upper emaciation herbal medicines were followed their channel-tropism theory like a lung, and may have a selective therapeutic potential for control of diabetic stage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1153-1160
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• 2009

Monascus-fermented Korean red ginseng (MFRG), fermented by Monascus purpureus KCCM 12002, may be an ideal candidate for the hepatoprotectic, hypolipidemic and antioxidative activities. Effect of MFRG powder on these parameters in rats was investigated. Body weight gain, food intake, and water consumption were not significantly different among the groups. Total and relative weights of liver were significantly higher in MFRG group than that in other groups. The activities of AST and $\gamma$-GTP were highly lowered in MFRG group compared to control group. Contents of serum total lipid and triglyceride were significantly lowered in silymarin group and were significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group, but tended to be lowered in RG group. Serum content of total cholesterol tended to be lowered in silymarin, RG, and MFRG groups compared to control group. HDL-cholesterol contents was only significantly increased in MFRG group compared to control group. At the same time, atherogenic index (AI) was also significantly lowered in silymarin, RG and MFRG groups compared to control group, and this effect was more pronounced in MFRG group. Content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver was significantly lowered in MFRG group and tended to lowered in silymarin and RG groups compared to control group. The hepatic glutathione concentration was significantly higher in silymarin and MFRG groups. Hepatic morphology in all experimental groups revealed clear-cut hepatic lobules with the uniform pattern of the polyhedral hepatocytes radiating towards the periphery from the central vein. These results suggested that MFRG may have anti-atherogenic index (AI) and antioxidative activity in normal dietary feeding rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.432-442
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the biological activity and synergistic effects of an extract powder of 1% and 3%, each fresh (FGP) and black garlic (BGP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose content was significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups than control group. Glycosylated Hb was significantly higher in streptozotocin induced diabetic control group than normal group, but significantly lower in FGP and BGP groups. Total cholesterol content of the FGP and BGP groups were lower than control group, but not shown the significant difference between garlic fed groups. HDL-cholesterol concentrations of the FGP and BGP fed groups were significantly higher than control group, except of 1% BGP group. LDL and VLDL-cholesterol contents were significantly lower in 3% FGP group, and the same tendency atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. GOT, GPT, and ${\gamma}$-GTP activity of serum were lower in FGP and BGP fed groups than control group. Glycogen contents in liver significantly higher than control group, and has not significantly difference between normal group. TBARS content was no significantly difference in the liver and serum, but in the kidney, 3% FPG and BGP fed groups were significantly lower than other experimental group. DPPH radical scavenging activity of liver has not significant difference among experimental groups, but activity was higher garlic extract powder fed groups in serum and kidney. These results indicate that dietary supplements of fresh and black garlic extract powder was contributed to lower of blood glucose, loss prevention of glycogen in liver and improve of lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.579-584
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• 2009

In this experiment, three different diets were produced to investigate the effects of Jeju native chicken eggs fed with citrus peel on the profiles of rats. The first diet did not contain any eggs (TS), the second diet contained 10% eggs and no citrus peels (T0), and the third diet contained 10% chicken egg with citrus peels (T1). These diets were provided to 11-week-old male rats for four weeks. The weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were not significantly different between the three treatment groups, TS, T0, and T1. The weight of the liver was significantly higher in T0 and T1 than TS (p<0.05), but the weights of the kidney and epididymal fat pad were not significantly different between the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The total lipid, phospholipid, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol did not significantly difference among the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The HDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/ total cholesterol of T1 were the highest among the groups, and the atherogenic index of T1 was the lowest among the groups (p<0.05). The total protein of TS was significantly lower in T0 and T1, and the albumin of T1 was the highest among the groups (p<0.05). The albumin/globulin ratio of TS was significantly higher in T0 and T1, but the creatinine of T0 was significantly higher in T0 and T1 (p<0.05). The blood sugar and blood pigment were not significantly different between the TS, T0, and T1 groups. The $\gamma$-GTP of T1 was the lowest among the groups (p<0.05), but the ALT, AST and ALP did not show significant difference among the TS, T0, and T1 groups.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.662-668
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• 2007

Studies have shown that onions exhibit a wide variety of health-promoting properties. The health benefits by the onion have been attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals, to reduce blood lipids, to lower blood pressure, and to inhibit platelet aggregation. This study was performed to investigate whether onion extract supplementation would affect the blood markers of ethanol-induced fatty liver in rats. Initially, male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed singly in a room of controlled temperature and lighting and had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G and deionized water. The rats were trained for meal feeding to prevent a decline in food intake, as inevitably observed following an ethanol feeding. After the training period, rats were weight-matched and assigned to the following three groups: 1) a control group, fed the AIN-93G diet alone (control); 2) an ethanol group, fed the AIN-93G diet with ethanol at 4 g/day/kg body weight (ethanol); and 3) an onion group, fed the AIN-93G diet with ethanol plus supplemental freeze-dried onion powder at 500 mg/day/rat (ethanol + onion). All three group were meal-fed 7.0 g of their respective diets at 0900 h and 7.5 g at 1600 h for 28 days. At 0, 2, and 4 wk, blood was collected via the orbital sinus and organs were collected following overnight food deprivation. Both control and experimental groups continually gained weight throughout the study. No significant differences in the weights of the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, and testis were observed. However, the serum level of triglycerides was significantly increased by ethanol but significantly decreased by onion extract. The activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) at 4 wk were significantly increased by ethanol feeding but were significantly decreased by onion supplementation. However, no differences among groups were observed in the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, bilirubin, and protein. These results provide that onion extract favorably affect alcoholic fatty liver by decreasing the serum concentration of triglyceride and the activities of GOT and GPT.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.685-690
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• 2002

The effects of mycelium of Cordyceps militaris on the growth, the lipid metabolism, the serum protein levels and the enzyme activities in male rats were studied. Sprague-Dawley rats were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of five weeks: either a control diet, a control diet supplemented with 2%, 3% or 4% mycelium of Cordyceps militaris (CM) powder. The body weight gain, hepatic weight, feed efficiency ratio and the feed intake of the rats given diets with 2%, 3% or 4% CM were similar to those in rats given the control diet. The concentrations of hepatic total lipid and triglyceride of rats fed the 3% or 4% CM diets were significantly lower than those of rats fed the control diet. But the concentrations of hepatic total cholesterol and phospholipid of rats fed the all CM diets were similar to those of rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of total lipid, total cholesterol, triglyceride phospholipid, and the atherogenic index, and the activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase in serum of rats fed the all CM diets were significantly lower than those of rats fed the control diet. No differences were noted in the concentrations of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total protein, albumin and creatinine, and the activities of glutamic pyruvic transaminase, ${\gamma}$ -glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum among the rats with on all the experimental diets. These results showed that the all CM diets feeding decreased the total cholesterol, the triglyceride, the phopholipid, and the atherogenic index in serum of rats.