• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.234-245
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• 2009

Nutritional assessment for the elderly can identify health status and morbidity. However, development of Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) remains limited for elderly because of difficulties in understanding physiological mechanism of elderly. This study was performed to analyze and develop Nutritional Risk Index for Korean elderly Women (Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, GNRI). Based on literature review, factors for NRI were identified and indices were assessed by a cross-sectional survey. The survey involved Korean elderly women (${\geq}$60, n = 94) in Gwangju area, and sociodemographics, lifestyle characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h- recall, anthropometric measures (wt, ht, BMI, waist, hip, WHR, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, and triceps skinfold thickness), and clinical biochemistry parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, HbAlc, ferritin, Zn, Ca, Na, K, Vit E, Vit $B_{12}$, folate, C-reactive protein) were examined relation to nutritional risk index. Based on literature review and data analyses, three NRIs were categorized (NRI I, NRI II, NRI III) and used for further analysis. NRI I was related to having metabolic syndrome, NRI II was related to serum albumin and body weight, and NRI III was related to food habit and health concerns. Abdominal fat (%) of elderly was correlated with each NRIs. NRI II was correlated with nutritional deficiency and higher tendency of inflammatory response, and NRI III was correlated with nutritional status which tend to be lower on aging (protein, folate, Vit $B_{12}$). NRI can serve as a useful tools in assessing health risk and nutritional status. Some modification of items in NRI and validity study are need to apply to Korean elderly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1180-1187
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• 1997

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor of atherosclerosis and has been reported to contain an abundance of free radical species which could be expected to deplete antioxidants such as vitamin C . The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between smoking, plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentration, and plasma vitamin C level. Fifty-five healthy male smokers and 32 non-smokers were investigated in the study. Mean age, body weight , BMI and blood pressure made no differences in both smokers and non-smokers. Significantly, smokers has higher plasma total cholesterol and LDL-C , and lower HDL-C /LDL-C ratio compared with non-smokers. Plasma level of thiobartiturin acid reactive substances(TBARS), indicator of lipid peroxidation and increased susceptibility of LDL towards lipid perosidation, were elevated in smokers(p<0.001), while the plasma vitamin C level of smokers was significantly lower than that of non-smokers(p<0.05), indicating that elevated lipid peroxidation are associated with decreased plasma vitamin C content. In non-smokers a significantly positive correlation was observed between dietary vitamin C intake and plasma levels, but no such association observed in smokers. Lack of such a relationship and the decreased plasma vitamin C level in the smokers suggest that smoking may cause increased turnover of the plasma antioxidant. Consuquently, the sustained free radical load derived from smoking causes an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant status and it could be expected that cigarette smoking renders plasma LDL more susceptible to oxidative modification . In the present study the possible explanations for that cigarette smokers have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease include the changes of blood lipid and lipoprotein concentration, and plasma vitamin C status which might have protective functions against free radicals -medaited lipid peroxidation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.389-396
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the opinions of various related-industries on ban of antibiotics growth promoters (AGPs) in commercial mixed feed. The answers on a total of 21 questions were summarized by response number and percentage. 93% of those surveyed were in agreement of a ban of dietary AGPs. The agreement reasons were the livestock safety (61.5%), the reduction of antibiotic use (23.1%), and decrease of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (11.5%). The negative effects expected by the ban of AGPs were poor growth performance (44.2%), elevated disease emergence (31.4%), increasing the feed cost (18.6%), and quality degradation of livestock (5.8%). As the efficient plans for decline of AGPs use, the feeding environment improvement was the highest with 43%, and farmer training and the consolidation inspection of residual substance on antibiotics in livestock product was 27.9% and 22.1%, respectively. 46.5% of respondent are considering the modification of feed spec and 39.5% of those surveyed have staged a modified feed spec. In conclusion, livestock related-industries approve a ban of AGPs, and they assert that the policy support, improvement of management and environment in the farm, providing technology from related-industries are multiply essential for a stable settlement of a ban policy of AGPs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.516-521
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• 2006

Modifications in dietary fatty acid intake might lead to a modification in membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationship between different type of oil consumption and leukocyte membrane phospholipid composition. This study was carried out in subjects utilizing butter (n = 15), margarine (n = 15), fluid oil (n = 15) and mixed types of oils (n = 15) in total 60 subjects. Leukocytes were separated from total blood by dextran sedimentation method. Membrane lipids and proteins were isolated following the cell disruption. Fatty acids of membrane phospholipids were isolated by hydrolysation with phospholipase B under ultrasonic dismembranator. Free fatty acids were identified with gas chromatography at chloroform phase. The results obtained were compared with data obtained by chromatograms of the standards. Results more prominent values of arachidic, dihomo-$\gamma$-linolenic and palmitoleic acids were found in butter-or mixed oil-user groups; eicosadienoic, eicosamonoenoic, dihomo-$\gamma$-linolenic and behenic acids in fluid oil; heptanoic, valeric, eicosadienoic and linolenic acids in margarine groups. The fatty acid composition of mixed oil was similar to butter, while other two oils were so different. From this study, it was concluded that the type of oil consumption might have an influence on phospholipid components of plasma membranes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1203-1208
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• 2012

Background: Previous studies concerning the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk in Asian populations generated conflicting results. A meta-analysis was therefore performed to allow a more reliable estimate of any link. Methods: Relevant studies concerning the association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of colorectal cancer were included into this meta-analysis. The quality of the studies was assessed according to a predefined scale. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined for this gene-disease association using fixed or random effect models according to the heterogeneity between included studies. Results: Finally, 21 studies with a total of 6692 cases and 8266 controls were included. Meta-analyses showed that there was an obvious association of the MTHFR 677T allele with decreased risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 0.91, 95%CI=0.85-0.98, P=0.011). Subgroup analyses by country further identified this association, with dietary folate as the main source of heterogeneity. Conclusion: The MTHFR 677T allele is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer in Asian populations, and there is effect modification by population plasma folate.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among age groups using the Framingham risk score (FRS). The research design used was a cross sectional descriptive study using the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013-2015. Data from 5211 men, between the ages of 30-74 was analyzed. After adjusting for age, the result of logistic regression analysis showed that obesity (OR=2.51 95% CI=2.05-3.07), physical inactivity (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.39-2.10), heavy alcohol drinking (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.09-1.62), and dietary fiber intake (OR=0.99, 95% CI=0.98-0.99) were presented as predictors of CVD. Obesity was considered to be a particularly important predictor of CVD for young and middle-aged men. This result will be used for developing intervention relating to lifestyle modification for young and middle-aged men.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.883-886
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• 2014

Background: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Several factors such as availability of screening tests, and dietary, other lifestyle, environmental and genetic influences contribute to worldwide disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates. Our aims were to investigate patient characteristics at the time of diagnosis, common treatment strategies employed and survival in an Iranian male population with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Archives of Pathology Departments of five referral centers affiliated with the School of Medicine of Shahid Sadoughi University in Yazd province were reviewed. Paraffin-embedded blocks were reviewed by two independent pathologists to confirm the diagnosis. The latest modification of the Gleason Scoring System was adopted to determine pathological grading. Following pathological evaluation, patients were contacted via telephone to acquire information regarding their current status. Results: Pathology blocks were available for 113 patients. However, upon phone contacts, we were unable to determine the survival status in 23 patients (response rate=83%). Therefore, 90 patients were enrolled in the final analysis. The median follow-up time was 6.0 years (ranging from 0.3 to 8.8 years). There were 30 death attributed to prostate cancer in the study group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patient age at the time of diagnosis was a significant predictor of survival. Another significant predictor of poorer survival was higher tumor grade. Conclusions: Our observations indicate that age and pathological grade can negatively affect survival of individuals with prostate cancer in Iran.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.970-976
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of morin, a flavonoid, on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem and one of its metabolites, desacetyldiltiazem in rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of diltiazem and desacetyldiltiazem were determined after oral administration of diltiazem (15 mg/kg) in rats pretreated with morin (1.5, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg). Compared with the control group (given diltiazem alone), pretreatment of morin significantly increased the absorption rate constant $(K_a)$ and peak concentration $(C_{max})$ of diltiazem (p<0.05, p<0.01). Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of diltiazem in rats pretreated with morin were significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05, p<0.01), hence the absolute bioavailability $(AB\%)$ of diltiazem was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05, p<0.01). Relative bioavailability $(RB\%)$ of diltiazem in rats pretreated with morin was increased by 1.36- to 2.03-fold. The terminal half-life $(t_{1/2})$ and time to reach the peak concentration $(T_{max})$ of diltiazem were not altered significantly with morin pretreatment. AUC of desacetyldiltiazem was increased significantly (p<0.05) in rats pretreated with morin at doses of 7.5 and 15 mg/kg, but metabolite-parent ratio (MR) of desacetyldiltiazem was decreased significantly (p<0.05), implying that pretreatment of morin could be effective to inhibit the CYP 3A4-mediated metabolism of diltiazem. There were no apparent changes of $T_{max}$ and $t_{1/2}$ of desacetyldiltiazem with morin pretreatment. Collectively, the pretreatment of morin significantly altered pharmacokinetics of diltiazem, which can be attributed to increased intestinal absorption as well as reduced first-pass metabolism. Based on these results, dose modification should be taken into consideration when diltiazem is used concomitantly with morin or morin-containing dietary supplements in clinical setting.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examine factors with attendance in hyperlipidemia nutrition eduction program among 101 hyperlipidemic outpatients (38 males 63 females) at Samsung Medical Center We employed the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework The individual nutrition education and counseling program was scheduled with 4- half hour session sin 2 to 4 weeks intervals. Upon initiation of the program a trained dietitian surveyed HBM constructs and psychosocial factors. The following were included perceived susceptibility to cardiovascular disease(CVD) perceived severity to CVD percieved benefits to diet modification perceived barriers to persistence in maintaining therapy and self efficicacy and social support from family Sociodemographic data health factors stress level nutrition knowledge, and 24-hour dietary recall behavior were also surveyed All these data was analyzed according to the number of nutrition sessions attended The subjects were 55.9$\pm$9.4 year old and 24.6$\pm$kg/㎡ Sociodemographic factors were not associated with the number of nutrition sessions attended HBM constructs and psychosocial factors were significantly associated with the number of nutrition sessions attended. According to Spearman correlation coefficients. From stepwis regression analyses using HBM constructs as independent variables perceive barriers to persistence in maintaining diet therapy (negative) proved to be the strongest predictors for the number of nutrition sessions attended (partial R$^2$= 72.3%) followed by perceived severity to CVD and self efficacy (model R$^2$=76.6% The findings indicate that HBM constructs and psychosocial factors were closely associated with patient attendance It suggests that information and guidance to minimize patients perceived barriers to diet therapy might help to improve patients to scheduled appointments in nutrition education programs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2022

Luteolin is a common dietary flavone possessing potent anti-inflammatory activities. However, when administrated in vivo, luteolin becomes methylated by catechol-O-methyltransferases (COMT) owing to the catechol ring in the chemical structure, which largely diminishes its anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we made a modification on luteolin, named LUA, which was generated by the chemical reaction between luteolin and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). Without a catechol ring in the chemical structure, this new flavone could escape from the COMT-catalyzed methylation, thus affording the potential to exert its functions in the original form when administrated in the organism. Moreover, an LPS-stimulated RAW cell model was applied to detect the anti-inflammatory properties. LUA showed much more superior inhibitory effect on LPS-induced production of NO than diosmetin (a major methylated form of luteolin) and significantly suppressed upregulation of iNOS and COX-2 in macrophages. LUA treatment dramatically reduced LPS-stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-β. Furthermore, LUA significantly reduced the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 without affecting that of ERK. LUA also inhibited the activation of NF-κB through suppression of p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.