• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2004

Effects of dietary calcium lactate (CaL-A) and Chungkukjang (Korean native fermented soybean) on bone mass, calcium status, body weight, serum glucose and cholesterol levels in young male rats were investigated. Chungkukjang was fermented by mixing 4 types of Bacillus sp., and then dried at 45$^{\circ}C$. Calcium lactate was prepared from the ash of black snail. The rats were fed a commercial rat diet for 1 week and then the experimental diets for 4 weeks. Animals were divided into four dietary groups: one calcium-deficient diet (Ca-De) and one of three with calcium supplemented diets (5 g calcium/kg diet) with either calcium phosphate (Ca-P), CaL-A, or CaL-A + Chuntkukjang (CaL-AC). Calcium supplemented diets contained 39 g Ca-P/kg diet and 28 g/kg of calcium lactate in the CaL-A and CaL-AC diets. Body weight gains during the 4 weeks in the Ca-P, CaL-A, CaL-AC and Ca-De groups were 130.45 g,112.50 g, 143.40 g and 10.20 g, respectively. Feed consumption of the groups from high to low was CaL-AC > Ca-P > CaL-A > Ca-De. The Ca-De group had low femur weights and low serum calcium concentrations, while they were comparatively high in CaL-AC, Ca-P and CaL-A groups. The Ca-De groups excreted less calcium in urine than did the other rats, probably due to increased absorption of the mineral in Ca-P, CaL-A and CaL-AC groups. Microscopic observations revealed that there were many regularly spaced holes in the femur of Ca-De group, while there were much smaller regularly spaced holes in Ca-P group. However, no holes in femur were observed in the CaL-A and CaL-AC groups. Bone surfaces were especially smooth and clean in the CaL-AC group. Serum concentrations of glucose and total cholesterol were remarkably lower in the CaL-AC group than in the other supplemented groups. These results suggest that calcium from CaL-A has higher bioavailability than from Ca-P, and dietary Chungkukjang may have a beneficial effect on calcium metabolism.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

The promoters of OsCaM1 and OsCaM3 were characterized after sequencing and fused to the reporter gene, GUS. The constructs were then transformed into the tobacco plant. Histochemical analysis of GUS showed different expression patterns in pOsCaM1::GUS and pOsCaM3:: GUS transgenic plants. The expression of pOsCaM1::GUS in 4- to 15-day-old seedlings in particular was observed only in the root, while the expression of pOsCaM3::GUS was detected in both the cotyledons and root. Also, pRCaM1::GUS was detected in all the tissues surrounding the root system, while the presence of pOsCaM3::GUS was observed in the root, except in the root meristem. However, in mature transgenic plants, the expression of pOsCaM1::GUS and OsRCaM3::GUS was scarcely detected. Under wounding stress, the GUS activity of pOsCaM1 and pOsCaM3 was strongly induced, and the activity of pOsCaM3 especially, was retained for long periods. In the phloem, pOsCaM3 activity induced by hormone treatments and abiotic stresses was also identified.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1131-1138
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different sources of Ca and P on urine and ileal digesta pH, and ammonia ($NH_{3}$), methane ($CH_{4}$), and odor emission. In experiment 1, eight pigs (commercial three-way cross; initial BW 67$\pm$3 kg) were arranged in a repeated 4$\times$4 Latin Square design. All pigs were equipped with a T-cannula in the distal ileum. Four corn-soybean meal based diets were formulated. Diet 1 was the control in which dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and limestone ($CaCO_{3}$) were used as the sources of inorganic P and Ca. In Diets 2 and 3, ${H_{3}}{PO_{4}}$, monocalcium phosphate (MCP), and $CaSO_{4}$replaced DCP and $CaCO_{3}$ as the inorganic sources of P and Ca. Diet 4 was similar to Diet 1 except that it was fortified with HCl to provide an acid load similar to that of diet 2. Urine and ileal digesta pH were determined in pigs fed each of these diets. In Exp. 1, urine pH decreased (p<0.05) in animals consuming diets containing ${H_{3}}{PO_{4}}$-$CaSO_{4}$ (5.85$\pm$0.38) and MCP-$CaSO_{4}$(5.73$\pm$0.30) compared with the DCP-$CaCO_{3}$ diet (6.89$\pm$0.24). In the pigs consuming ${H_{3}}{PO_{4}}$-$CaSO_{4}$, ileal digesta pH decreased compared with the control (5.52$\pm$0.28 vs. 6.66$\pm$0.17; p<0.05). Based on the results of Exp. 1, a total of four trials were performed in environmental chambers for determining how $NH_{3}$, $NH_{4}$, and odor were affected by the different dietary Ca and P sources (Exp. 2). In Exp. 2, pigs fed the ${H_{3}}{PO_{4}}$-$CaSO_{4}$ diet had decreased (30%) $NH_{3}$ emissions compared with the control (p<0.05). Also, a combination of MCP-$CaCO_{3}$-$CaCl_{12}$ decreased $NH_{3}$ emission by 15% (p<0.05). Emission of $CH_{4}$ was decreased only with the ${H_{3}}{PO_{4}}$-$CaSO_{4}$ diet with 14% (p<0.05). Odorant emission of phenolics and volatile fatty acids increased roughly three-fold with the DCP-$CaSO_{4}$ diet but was not affected by other test diets. In conclusion, acidogenic Ca and P sources in swine diets can decrease the urinary pH and reduce $NH_{3}$ and $CH_{4}$ emission from swine facilities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1025-1036
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• 1994

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Ca and/or vitamin D supplementation for 53 weeks on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. The subjects were healthy 18 women aged from 59 to 69 years old. They were divided into three groups : placebo, Ca(1000mg/day) supplementation and Ca(1000mg/day) with vitamin D(12.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/day) supplementation. During the experimental periods except for metabolic studies, the subjects ate their usual diets and the use of drugs as well as excessive exercise was prohibited. Metabolic studies were conducted in the 1st week and in the 53rd week of the experimental periods. The subjects ate experimental diets which consisted of 1787.3kcal, 69.6g of protein, 561.5mg of Ca and 1078.6mg of P daily during both of the metabolic study periods. The results were summarized as follows; 1) Bone density of the second lumbar spine and trochanter measured after treatment decreased significantly in control group as compared with pre-experimental level(p<0.05). On the contrary, bone density of femoral neck and Ward's triangle in Ca group and the second lumbar spine in Ca.Vit D group increased significantly after treatment. 2) Serum PTH and calcitonin levels did not show any significant differences among groups before and after treatment. But serum PTH level increased significantly in all groups after treatment(P<0.05). 3) Serum Ca and P levels did not show any significant differences among groups before and after treatment. But serum Ca level increased significantly in all groups after treatment (P<0.05) and serum P level decreased significantly in Ca.Vit D group after treatment(P<0.05). 4) Mean 24-hours fecal Ca excretion of Ca group was the highest in the 1st week of treatment(P<0.01), and that of control group was the lowest in the 53rd week of treatment(P<0.01). Fecal Ca excretion increased significantly in control and Ca.Vit D group in the 53rd week of treatment(P<0.05). Urinary Ca excretion did not show any significant differences among groups in the 1st and 53rd week of treatment, but that of Ca.Vit D group was the highest the 1st week of treatment(P<0.01). In the 53rd week of treatment Ca and Ca.Vit D group showed positive Ca balance, but control group showed negative Ca balance. The above results showed that it will be difficult to prevent degenerative bone loss without Ca and/or vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal women eating Korean usual diets.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 2021

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with chronic skin inflammatory reactions. p-coumaric acid (pCA) is an active ingredient of Panax ginseng Meyer (Araliaceae). Methods: Here, we estimated an anti-AD effect of pCA on activated mast cells, activated splenocytes, and a mouse model of AD. Cytokines levels were measured by ELISA and protein activation was analyzed by Western blotting. 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was used to induce AD-like skin lesions. Results: The treatment with pCA suppressed the productions and mRNA expressions of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in HMC-1 cells. pCA downregulated the expressions of RIP2 and caspase-1, phosphorylated-(p)p38/pJNK/pERK, and pIKKβ/pIkBα/NF-κB in HMC-1 cells. pCA also decreased the productions of TSLP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, and IFN-γ in the supernatant of stimulated splenic cells. Comparing to DNFB-sensitized control group, pCA-treated group alleviated pathological changes of AD-like lesions. pCA decreased the proteins and mRNA expressions levels of TSLP, IL-6, and IL-4 in the skin lesions. Caspase-1 activation was also downregulated by pCA treatment in the AD-like lesions. The serum levels of histamine, IgE, TSLP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-4 were suppressed following treatment with pCA. Conclusion: This study suggests that pCA has the potential to improve AD by suppressing TSLP as well as inflammatory cytokines via blocking of caspase-1/NF-κB signal cascade.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.809-816
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• 2019

The ubiquitous plant metabolite p-coumaric acid (p-CA) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its anti-cancer activity has not been established in gastric cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the effects of p-CA on the proliferation and transcriptome profile of SNU16 gastric cancer cells. Treatment with p-CA induced apoptosis of the SNU-16 cells by regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Bax, procaspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-3. The genes differentially expressed in response to p-CA treatment of the SNU-16 cells were identified by RNA sequencing analysis. Genes regulated by p-CA were involved mainly in the inflammatory response, apoptotic processes, cell cycle, and immune response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-Akt and cancer signaling pathways were altered by p-CA. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis also revealed that p-CA treatment was correlated with differential expression of genes associated with the inflammatory response and cancer. Collectively, these results suggest that p-CA has potential utility in gastric cancer prevention.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.546-552
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• 2018

A comprehensive collection of proteins senses local changes in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and transduces these signals into responses to agonists. In the present study, we examined the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. To measure $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells, we used a fluorescence microscopy with the Fura-2 loading method. S1P produced a concentration-dependent increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the cells. Pretreatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, decreased the S1P-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and an L-type $Ca^{2+}$-channel blocker, nimodipine, decreased the effect of S1P. This indicates that $Ca^{2+}$ influx may be required for muscle contraction by S1P. When stimulated with thapsigargin, an intracellular calcium chelator, or 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an $InsP_3$ receptor blocker, the S1P-evoked increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was significantly decreased. Treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), an inhibitor of $G_i$-protein, suppressed the increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ evoked by S1P. These results suggest that the S1P-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells occurs upon the activation of phospholipase C and subsequent release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the $InsP_3$-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ pool in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that S1P utilized extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ via the L type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, which was dependent on activation of the $S1P_4$ receptor coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_i$ protein, via phospholipase C-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ release from the $InsP_3$-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ pool in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Soil acidification, which is known to be one of the reasons of forest decline, is associated with decreases in exchangeable Ca and increases in Al concentration, leading to low Ca/Al ratio in soil solution. As tree rings are datable archives of environmental changes, Ca/Al ratios of annual growth ring may show decreasing pattern in accordance with the progress of soil acidification. This study was conducted to investigate Ca/Al pattern of Pinus densiflora tree ring in an attempt to test its usefulness as an indicator of historical soil acidification. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three P. densiflora tree disks were collected from P. densiflora forests in Jeonnam province, and soil samples (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm in depth) were also collected from the tree locations. Soils were analyzed for pH and exchangeable Ca and Al concentrations, and Ca/Al was calculated. Annual growth rings formed between 1969 and 2007 were separated and analyzed for Ca/Al. Soil Ca/Al was positively (P<0.01) correlated with soil pH, suggesting that soil acidification decreased Ca while increasing Al availability, lowering Ca/Al in soil solution. The Ca/Al of tree rings also showed a decreasing pattern from 18.2 to 5.5 during the period, and this seemed to reflect historical acidification of the soils. CONCLUSION(s): The relationship between soil pH and Ca/Al and the decreasing pattern of Ca/Al of tree ring suggest that Ca/Al of tree ring needs to be considered as a proxy of the progress of soil acidification in P. densiflora forest in southern Korea.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.642-645
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• 1991

The rheological properties of wheat flours and corn starch and cooking properties of dry noodle in the presence of calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite(Ca-P) were studied. The additive($0.2{\sim}0.8%$) had essentially no effects on farinograms of strong and all-purpose wheat flours, however, they decreased the amylograph pasting temperature and increased the peak viscosity of flours, which was more pronounced in all-purpose flour. The cooking properties of dry noodles in the presence or absence of the Ca-P showed no significant differences, but the cutting forces of cooked noodles were increased by Ca-P at 0.4%. The pasting properties of corn starch in the presence of Ca-P($0.2{\sim}0.8%$) were similar to those of wheat flour. The gelatinization temperature of corn starch by differential scanning calorimeter decreased by $1^{\circ}C$ in the presence of 0.4% Ca-P. The time constant, a reciprocal of rate constant, of corn starch gel was slightly increased in the presence of 0.2 or 0.4% Ca-P.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.942-949
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• 2003

This study was longitudinally conducted to evaluate the intakes of protein, Ca, Mg and P of exclusively breast-fed infants compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Korean infants. Twenty Korean lactating women and their infants during the first 3 months of lactation in Incheon area were participated. Protein, Ca and Mg, and P contents in the milk were determined using semimicro Kjeldahl (N ${\times}$ 6.38) , atomic absorption spectrophotometer and colorimeter, respectively, and also the milk consumption of the infants was measured by the test-weighing method. Protein contents of the milk were 1.96, 1.63, 1.51, 1.25 and 1.16 g/100 ml, and protein intakes of the breast-fed infants were 9.00, 9.85, 9.17, 8.97 and 7.76 g/day at 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days postpartum. The average protein intake per body weight of the breast-fed infants was 1.84 g/kg/day. The average intakes of Ca, Mg, P were 172.1 mg/day, 15.2 mg/day and 91.4 mg/day, respectively, and the average Ca/P ratio was 1.91. There was positive correlation between protein and Ca, protein and p, and Ca and P contents while negative correlation between Mg and P, The body weight of breast-fed infants increased normally from 3.6 $\pm$ 0.41 g at birth to three month during lactation. It is suggested that the breast-fed infants in Incheon area consume almost adequately protein, Ca and P from the milk compared with RDA for Korean infants.