• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1047-1051
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• 2017

Due to aging, the physical fitness of middle-aged women decreases after menopause. This results in increased body fat and reduced lean body mass, both of which can lead to obesity. This phenomenon is accompanied by changes in hormone secretion in the body. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of circuit training on aging-related hormones in obese middle-aged women. The subjects were 20 obese middle-aged women. The subjects were divided into two groups: a circuit training group (n=10) and nonexercise control group (n=10). Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), estrogen, and DHEA-S were measured before and after the circuit training program. The circuit training group performed circuit training for 12 weeks, three times per week. Exercise intensity was increased gradually from 60% to 80% of heart rate reserve every 6 weeks. In the circuit training group, at the end of the 12-week training program, the IGF-1 levels were significantly increased compared to pre-exercise levels, and they were higher than those of the control group. GH levels were also significantly increased in the circuit training group, but the differences were not statistically significant. DHEA-S was significantly increased in the circuit training group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results showed that circuit training improved aging-related hormones levels in obese middle-aged women.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.176-184
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• 2002

Objective; Antistress effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on postmenopausal women with severe climacteric syndrome (CS) were evaluated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine and Western medicine. Methods; All patients with CS were treated with daily oral administration of 6g RG for 30 days. Nine patients with CS were evaluated with the use of diagnostic scores for KI-deficiency (deficiency of vital energy) and OKETSU (blood stagnation) syndrome from the viewpoint of KAMPa-medicine. In the same patients with CS, peripheral blood levels of $\beta$-endorphin and total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (t-PAI-1) were measured before and after treatment with RG. In another group, 12 patients with CS, psychological test using CMI, STAI and SDS were performed from the viewpoint of Western medicine. Stress related hormones, such as ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in those 12 patients with CS were also measured before and after treatment with RG. Results; KI-deficiency score and OKETSU score in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.001) higher than those in patients without CS. After treatment with RG, both scores were markedly (p<0.001) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. ${\beta}-endorphin$ levels in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. Total PAI-I levels in patients with CS were increased before treatment with RG. No significant difference, however, were observed between patients with and without CS. After treatment with RG, both levels of ${\beta}-endorphin$ and total PAI-l in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) decreased compared to before treatment with RG. CMI and STAI scores in patients with CS were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in patients without CS. SDS scores in patients with CS were also markedly (p<0.001) higher than in those without CS. After treatment with RG, all scores decreased within normal range. DHEA-S levels in patients with CS were about a half of those without CS. Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly (p<0.001) higher in patients with CS than in those without CS. Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in patients without CS, the C/D ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) after treatment with RG. Conclusion; Reinforcement of vital energy and improvement of stagnant blood circulations by oral administration of RG were elucidated from the viewpoint of traditional KAMPO-medicine. From the viewpoint of Western medicine, effect of RG on postmenopausal women with CS seemed to be brought about in part by not only an improvement of psychoneuroendocrine dysfunctions but also an amelioration of blood coagulation systems.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.227-234
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the effects of participating in an aerobic exercise program three days a week and 50 minutes a day on dementia related factors and cognitive function in elderly women with mild dementia. For this, among 17 elderly women aged 65 and above, 10 elderly women were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 7 elderly wonmen to the control group. As a result of comparative analysis, conclusions were drawn as follows: There was a significant difference (p<.05) in the DHEA-s change between the two groups according to whether or not the aerobic exercise program was performed. Changes in cognitive function did not show any significant difference in the interaction effects of group, period, period${\times}$group. These results suggest that the aerobic exercise program did not show statistically significant effects on the dementia related factors and cognitive function changes of the elderly women with mild dementia. The reason for this is that the followings should be analyzed in more detail, but the lack of control on the daily life (diet) of the study subjects, which was considered as a limitation in this study, seems to be the biggest cause. Based on the results of this study, we hope that this study will be used as a basic data for improving the quality of dementia.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Oxygen is the final acceptor of electron transport from fat and carbohydrate oxidation, which is the rate-limiting factor for cellular ATP production. Under altitude hypoxia condition, energy reliance on anaerobic glycolysis increases to compensate for the shortfall caused by reduced fatty acid oxidation [1]. Therefore, training at altitude is expected to strongly influence the human metabolic system, and has the potential to be designed as a non-pharmacological or recreational intervention regimen for correcting diabetes or related metabolic problems. However, most people cannot accommodate high altitude exposure above 4500 M due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and insulin resistance corresponding to a increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine [2]. Thus, less stringent conditions were evaluated to determine whether glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity could be improved by moderate altitude exposure (below 4000 M). In 2003, we and another group in Austria reported that short-term moderate altitude exposure plus endurance-related physical activity significantly improves glucose tolerance (not fasting glucose) in humans [3,4], which is associated with the improvement in the whole-body insulin sensitivity [5]. With daily hiking at an altitude of approximately 4000 M, glucose tolerance can still be improved but fasting glucose was slightly elevated. Individuals vary widely in their response to altitude challenge. In particular, the improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by prolonged altitude hiking activity is not apparent in those individuals with low baseline DHEA-S concentration [6]. In addition, hematopoietic adaptation against altitude hypoxia can also be impaired in individuals with low DHEA-S. In short-lived mammals like rodents, the DHEA-S level is barely detectable since their adrenal cortex does not appear to produce this steroid [7]. In this model, exercise training recovery under prolonged hypoxia exposure (14-15% oxygen, 8 h per day for 6 weeks) can still improve insulin sensitivity, secondary to an effective suppression of adiposity [8]. Genetically obese rats exhibit hyperinsulinemia (sign of insulin resistance) with up-regulated baseline levels of AMP-activated protein kinase and AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle compared to lean rats. After prolonged hypoxia training, this abnormality can be reversed concomitant with an approximately 50% increase in GLUT4 protein expression. Additionally, prolonged moderate hypoxia training results in decreased diffusion distance of muscle fiber (reduced cross-sectional area) without affecting muscle weight. In humans, moderate hypoxia increases postprandial blood distribution towards skeletal muscle during a training recovery. This physiological response plays a role in the redistribution of fuel storage among important energy storage sites and may explain its potent effect on changing body composition. Conclusion: Prolonged moderate altitude hypoxia (rangingfrom 1700 to 2400 M), but not acute high attitude hypoxia (above 4000 M), can effectively improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance for humans and antagonizes the obese phenotype in animals with a genetic defect. In humans, the magnitude of the improvementvaries widely and correlates with baseline plasma DHEA-S levels. Compared to training at sea-level, training at altitude effectively decreases fat mass in parallel with increased muscle mass. This change may be associated with increased perfusion of insulin and fuel towards skeletal muscle that favors muscle competing postprandial fuel in circulation against adipose tissues.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2002

Objective : To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. Material and Method: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose/insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. Results: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. Conclusions: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.924-937
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of resistance training intensity levels on muscle damaged index and aging-related hormones in obese middle-aged women. Thirty middle-aged women having over 30% of body fat participated in this study. The subjects were assigned into 3 groups on the basis of workout intensity, 50% intensity, 60% intensity, and 70% intensity. After performing three different types of exercise for 12 weeks, the levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and growth hormone (GH) in all subjects were assessed before and after the program. Muscle damaged index was effectively changed in low exercise intensity group. However, aging-related hormones were effectively changed in high exercise intensity group. DHEA-S and GH were significantly increased in the 70% intensity group than the other groups.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.261-268
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of serum immunoblobulin and DHEAs when 8 weeks of combined exercise and peony intake have been held to women in their 40s and 50s. 15 participants were chosen, divided into three groups, and they had undergone combined exercise with the level of 1RM 60~70%, HRmax 60~70%, three times a week for 60 minutes each. For the proper intake, 6g of peony were warmed in a double boiler with water 107ml, and the crude liquid was ingested 100ml each by the participants, everyday before breakfast, for 8 weeks. The following conclusions were obtained through these objectives and procedures. First, the amount of immunoglobulin has increased in two groups, the 8-week combined exercise group and the group which undergone both the peony intake and the combined exercise, but did not show the significant difference(p>.05). Second, the results of DHEAs showed an increas in two groups, the 8-week combined exercise group and the group which undergone both the peony intake and the combined exercise, but did not show the significant difference(p>.05). Therefore, the consumption of peony and complex exercise in this study did not positively affect the immune function and dementia prevention.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 1997

The enzymatic properties as well as its distribution in the cerebral region and subcellular organells were investigated for the neurosteroid acyltransferase from the bovine brain, which synthesize the fatty acid esters of the neurosteroids. The cerebellum region was the highest in NSAT activity while the cerebrum was the lowest with 50% of the cerebellar activity. The NSAT was found to be mainly localized in the microsomal fraction. The optimal temperature and pH were $40^{\circ}C$ and 4.9, respectively. When $^3H-DHEA$ was utilized as substrate, the $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ was $32.6\;{\mu}M$ and 4.86 nmole/mg protein/h, respectively. Under the same condition pregnenolone$({\Delta}^5P)$ was a competitive inhibitor with $K_i=22.8\;{\mu}M$ and testosterone was a uncompetitive inhibitor with $K_i=22.8\;{\mu}M$. This may suggest that the NSAT has a different conformation in the acylation of the ${\beta}-hydroxyl$ group at C-3 and C-17.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate(DHEAS) as a stress hormone. Experiment 1) We evaluated the variation of DHEAS levels of long-term(30minutes a day fur 3 weeks) 37$^{\circ}C$ thermal stressed mice compared with that of cortisol. Serum concentrations of cortisol and DHEAS were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). Cortisol levels were not significantly altered both LW(Long-term stressed group, mice were killed without rest) and LR(Long-term stressed group, mice were killed after 4 days' rest) compared with control group, but DHEAS levels were decreased in LW compared with control group(p<0.05), and it kept a sustained difference after 4 days' rest(LR)(p<0.05). Experiment 2) We evaluated the changes of DHEAS levels on term of stress and rest. As stress term was longer, serum DHEAS levels were decreased and also kept a sustained difference after 10 days' rest compared with control group(p<0.05). These results suggest that cortisol has difficulty in taking an accurate measurement after extinction of stimuli, whereas DHEAS is more accurate and stable. Thus, this study implies that DHEAS is a stress-related hormone.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.3903-3911
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• 2019

Female sex steroid hormones, including estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), serve significant physiological roles in pregnancy. In particular, E2 and P4 influence placenta formation, maintain pregnancy and stimulate milk production. These hormones are produced by ovaries, adrenal glands and the placenta, of which the latter is a major endocrine organ during pregnancy. However, the mechanism of hormone production during pregnancy remains unclear. In the present study, the regulation of steroid hormones and steroidogenic enzymes was examined in human placenta according to gestational age. In human placental tissues, expression levels of steroidogenic enzymes were determined with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The mRNA and protein expression of CYP17A1, HSD17B3 and CYP19A1, which are associated with the synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and E2, was elevated at different gestational ages in human placenta. In addition, to evaluate the correlation between serum and placental-produced hormones, steroid hormone levels, including pregnenolone (PG), DHEA, P4, testosterone (T) and E2, were examined in serum and placenta. Serum and placenta expression of DHEA and E2 increased with gestational age, whereas T and P4 were differently regulated in placenta and serum. To confirm the mechanism of steroidogenesis in vitro, placental BeWo cells were treated with E2 and P4, which are the most important hormones during pregnancy. The mRNA and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes was significantly altered by E2 in vitro. These results demonstrated that concentration of steroid hormones was differently regulated by steroidogenic enzymes in the placenta depending on the type of the hormones, which may be critical to maintain pregnancy.