• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women, which is characterized by the oligo/anovulation, hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovarian morphology which are diagnostic criteria. PCOS has diverse clinical aspects in addition to those diagnostic criteria including increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and impaired fertility. Because of the heterogeneity of the disease, the pathogenesis of the disease has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, there is no cure for the endocrinopathy. HA and insulin resistance (IR) has been considered two major pillars of the pathogenesis of PCOS. Recent advances in animal studies revealed the critical role of neuroendocrine abnormalities in developing PCOS. Several pathways related to neuroendocrine origin have been investigated such as hypothalamus pituitary ovarian axis, hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis and hypothalamus pituitary adipose axis. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of HA and IR in developing PCOS. In addition, we review the results of recent genome wide association studies for PCOS. This new perspective improves our understanding of the role of neuroendocrine origins in PCOS and suggest a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PCOS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate effects of Chiarella vulgaris on lipid metabolism in rats fed high fat diet. Sixty 6-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups; normal diet group and high fat diet group, then the rats in each group were further divided into three subgroups and fed 0%, 5% and 10% (w/w) chlorella-containing diets, respectively, and raised for 9 weeks, Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total protein and albumin concentration were not different among groups. Serum total lipids and liver TG concentration were significantly lower in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Serum TG, serum total cholesterol, liver total lipid and liver total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Fecal total lipid, TG and total cholesterol excretions were significantly higher in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella groups in normal diet and high fat diet groups, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that Chlorella vulgaris is effective for prevention of dyslipidemia which may be due to the modulation of lipid metabolism and increased fecal excretion of lipid.

• Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-97
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• 2018

The prevalence of atherothrombotic disease continues to rise, presenting an increasing number of challenges to modern society and creating interest in functional foods. Platelet activation, adhesion, and aggregation at vascular endothelial disruption sites are key events in atherothrombotic disease. Physiological challenges such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cigarette smoking are associated with vascular changes underlying platelet aggregation and inflammatory processes. However, it is difficult to determine the beneficial response of functional foods in healthy subjects. To address this problem, challenge models and high-risk models related to smokers, obesity, and dyslipidemia are proposed as sensitive measures to evaluate the effects of functional foods in healthy subjects. In this review, we construct a model to evaluate the effects of functional food such as natural products on blood flow based on a human intervention study.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2019

Atorvastatin is one of the most widely prescribed medications for dyslipidemia treatment. In Korea, post combined therapy with ezetimibe, a 73-year-old woman was reported by a community pharmacy to have experienced visual field defect, which recovered after drug discontinuation. She had never experienced this symptom before, and several studies have reported an association between use of statins and visual disorders such as blurred vision, diplopia, and cataract. Blockage of cholesterol accumulation, oxidative stress, or myopathy is expected to be a cause of this symptom. Naranjo scale, Korean causality assessment algorithm (Ver.2), and World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UMC) criteria were the three tools used to determine causality between the visual disorder and atorvastatin. The results represent 'probable', 'certain', and 'probable/likely' causality, respectively. Our results, in combination with a review of literature, indicate that ocular adverse effects are highly likely related to atorvastatin.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2019

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease that manifests as joint damage or athletic disability via sustained inflammation of the synovial membrane. The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in RA patients. This study aimed at evaluating the association between CVD comorbidities and RA by comparing a pharmacotherapy group with a non-pharmacotherapy group. Methods: Patient sample data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA-NPS-2016) were used. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using the propensity score was used to minimize the differences in patient characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk of CVD comorbidities. Results: The analyses included 1,207,213 patients, of which 33,122 (2.8%) had RA. The odds ratios (OR) of CVD comorbidities were increased in RA patients; ischemic heart disease (IHD: OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.73, 1.77), cerebral infarction (CERI: OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.26, 1.30), hypertension (HTN: OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.43, 1.45), diabetes mellitus (DM: OR 2.04; 95% CI 2.03, 2.06), and dyslipidemia (DL: OR 3.49; 95% CI 3.47, 3.51). The ORs of IHD, CERI, HTN, and DM in the traditional DMARD and biologic treatment groups were decreased, compared with those in the non-pharmacotherapy group. Conclusions: Thus, CVD risk was higher in RA patients, considering age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Appropriate pharmacotherapy could decrease the risk of CVD comorbidities in RA patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.469-478
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mulberry leaf (ML) has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and suppresses postprandial hyperglycemia, which may be related to its deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) content. This study was conducted to investigate the hypoglycemic and dyslipidemic effects of rice coated with ML rich in DNJ in a type 2 diabetes mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: The mice were divided into four groups (n = 8 each): non-diabetic normal control (NC); diabetic control (DM-C), fed with 10% polished rice powder (DM-R); and fed with 10% polished rice powder coated with DNJ-rich ML (DM-DNJR). RESULTS: Supplementation with DNJR for six weeks decreased levels of fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and blood glycosylated hemoglobin; conversely, levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol showed an increase in the same treatment. In addition, weights of mesenteric, epididymal, and total adipose tissues decreased with DNJR supplementation, when compared with diabetic control db/db mice, while maltase, lactase, and sucrase activity in the small intestine were inhibited. The anti-diabetic effects were marginally greater in the DM-DNJR group than in the DM-R group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rice coated with ML rich in DNJ can reduce hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in db/db mice, and may prove useful for individuals with diabetes.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2019

The paradigm of chronic liver diseases has been shifting. Although hepatitis B and C viral infections are still the main causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the introduction of effective antiviral drugs may control or cure them in the near future. In contrast, the burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing for decades, and 25 to 30% of the general population in Korea is estimated to have NAFLD. Over 10% of NAFLD patients may have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. NASH can progress to cirrhosis and HCC. NASH is currently the second leading cause to be placed on the liver transplantation list in the United States. NAFLD is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The pathophysiology is complex and associated with lipotoxicity, inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and insulin resistance. The only proven effective treatment is weight reduction by diet and exercise. However, this may not be effective for advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Therefore, effective drugs are urgently needed for treating these conditions. Unfortunately, no drugs have been approved for the treatment of NASH. Many pharmaceutical companies are trying to develop new drugs for the treatment of NASH. Some of them are in phase 2 or 3 clinical trials. Here, pharmacologic therapies in clinical trials, as well as the basic principles of drug therapy, will be reviewed, focusing on pathophysiology.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2019

Objectives: This study identified biopsychosocial factors associated with metabolic syndrome among Korean men and women aged over 40 years. Methods: Secondary data from the 2010-2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for this study. Based on the biopsychosocial model, psychosocial factors (stress, depression, smoking, binge alcohol consumption, physical activity) were assessed with control of biomedical (age, body mass index, family history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease) and biosocial factors (educational level and economic status). Data from 8,624 men and 7,321 women were analyzed by logistic regression analysis using a complex sample procedure. Results: Among men, current or past smoking habits (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.349; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.155-1.575, p<.001) and binge alcohol consumption (AOR: 1.570, CI: 1.389-1.774, p<.001) were associated with metabolic syndrome. In addition, moderate (AOR: 1.205, CI: 1.038-1.400, p=.014) and low levels of physical activity (AOR: 1.296, CI: 1.109-1.514, p=.001) were associated with metabolic syndrome. Among women, low level of physical activity (AOR: 1.276, CI: 1.017-1.602, p=.036) was associated with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Gender specific interventions such as encouraging physical activity and prevention of smoking and excessive alcohol drinking are important to prevention of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2022

In this study, 230 subjects of medical examination were investigated to figure out the relationship with common carotid artery intima-media thickness and cardiac diastolic function. In addition, the change in the carotid artery intima-media thickness according to the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome was examined. As a result of the study the carotid artery intima-media thickness was thick as the age increased and there was a large difference in those in their 60s and over. There was no gender difference. As for metabolic syndrome the carotid artery intima-media thickness was thicker in the study subjects with high blood pressure diabetes and dyslipidemia. The correlation between the carotid artery intima-media thickness and diastolic function indexes was significant. As a result of hierarchical regression analysis the thicker the intima-media thickness in the carotid artery the lower cardiac diastolic function.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease that is not well known or diagnosed in Korea. This disease is associated with persistently high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which increase the risk of coronary artery disease at a young age. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important; however, there are no global consensus diagnostic criteria. In Korea, the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network diagnostic criteria, and the Simon Broome diagnostic criteria were used for diagnosis of FH according to the agreement announced at the Korean Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis (KSoLA) in 2022. Recently, the absence of coronary artery calcification has been considered a good prognostic factor, even among patients with very high LDL-C levels who are considered to be at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We describe throughout this paper the diagnosis and treatment of FH in a young male without coronary artery calcification.