• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2020

[Purpose] In vivo studies have demonstrated the ergogenic benefits of eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) supplementation. ES has been observed to enhance endurance capacity, improve cardiovascular function, and alter metabolic functions (e.g., increased fat utilization); however, the exact mechanisms involved remain unknown. We aimed to determine whether ES could effectively induce fat loss and improve muscle metabolic profiles through increases in lipolysis- and lipid metabolism-associated protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, respectively, to uncover the direct effects of ES on adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells. [Methods] Different doses of ES extracts (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL) were added to cells (0.2 ES, 0.5 ES, and 1.0 ES, respectively) for 72 h and compared to the vehicle control (control). [Results] The intracellular triacylglycerol (TG) content significantly decreased (p < 0.05 for 0.2 ES, p < 0.01 for 0.5 ES and 1.0 ES) in 3T3-L1 cells. Adipose triglyceride lipase, which is involved in active lipolysis, was significantly higher in the 1.0 ES group than in the control group (p < 0.01) of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In C2C12 cells, the mitochondrial protein voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) was significantly increased in the 1.0 ES group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, we found that 1.0 ES activated both 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01). [Conclusion] These findings suggest that ES extracts decreased TG content, presumably by increasing lipase in adipocytes and metabolism-associated protein expression as well as mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle cells. These effects may corroborate previous in vivo findings regarding the ergogenic effects of ES supplementation.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.602-609
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• 2015

The aim of this document is to evaluate the effect of bite balance on physical fitness and motor capacity to determine the importance of the occlusal stability as a possible action mechanism of occlusal appliance including mouthguards on physical performances. We all remember that day when the prominent athlete was in the news wearing a mouthguard to improve human athletic performance. I once had investigated the determinants of athletic performance in all sorts of sports. Most of the studies had overinterpretation of results and lack of evidence to support the information. However, I discovered great expectations for new possibility in this field and settled for a more academic approach to this intriguing subject. The followings are some examples of the subject 1. Archers who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 2~3mm increased their ability to focus and to maintain good sense of balance. Their accuracy rate has been improved. The appliance was made of acrylic resin (a type of plastic). 2. Canoe players who wore occlusal appliances to increase the vertical dimension of occlusion by 5mm surpassed longtime competitor and won the race with 10 seconds gap. 3. A cycle rider who wore an occlusal appliance to treat his malocclusion surpassed his old record from 10.8 seconds to 10.3 seconds. His muscle reflexes (anaerobic exercise) and endurance (aerobic exercise) has been enhanced. 4. Occlusal appliances had a good effect on athletic performance in most sports such as swimming, diving, and weightlifting. As for the clenching on dentition, people clench their teeth when they push their physical and mental limits during sports activities. Clenching can be induced by physical exertion when maximum muscle strength is retained and this is similarly found in different types of exercises. In addition, restraint of respiratory function is observed. Therefore, creating a occlusal balance with occlusal appliance or mouthguard promoted a favorable influence when an athlete clenches.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-81
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• 2003

There can be little dissension that the ultimate goal of all physical therapy interventions with the elderly is to restore or maintain the highest level of function possible for the individual. Whenever physical therapists take on this challenge, they assist elders in maintaining their identities as competent adults. Advancing age is associated with profound changes in body composition, including increased fat mass, decreased fat-free mass(particularly muscle), decreased total body water and decreased bone density. Along with these changes in body compositions, and perhaps as a direct result of them, elderly people have lower energy needs, reduced strength and functional capacity and a greatly increased risk for such diseases as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Resistance training is considered a promising intervention for reversing the loss of muscle function and the deterioration of muscle structure that is associated with advanced age. This reversal is thought to result in improvements in functional abilities and health status in the elderly by increasing muscle mass, strength and power and by increasing bone mineral density. In the past couple of decades, many studies have examined the effects of Resistance training on risk factors for age-related diseases or disabilities. We have explored the positive and negative aspects of older adults' participation in resistance training programs. The benefits to older adults are reported to be increased strength, endurance, muscle capacity, and flexibility; more energy; and improved self-image and confidence. The negative aspects include some pain or stiffness and other nonspecific problems. The positive and negative aspects of resistance training are therefore very similar to those in younger populations. Scientific investigations over the past 10 years have demonstrated that resistance training can be safely and successfully implemented in older populations. Even the frail and very sick elderly can benefit and improve their quality of life. Proper design and progression of a resistance training program for older adults is vital to optimal benefits from resistance exercise. The results of data provided by this research on resistance training for health shows that there is enough existing evidence to conclude that resistance training, particularly when incorporated into a comprehensive fitness program, can offer substantial health benefits which can be obtained by persons of all ages. These benefits, including improvements in functional capacity, translate into an improved quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

Effect of terrapin or snake extract on forced-swimming capacity and related biochemical parameters of SD rats was evaluated. Treatment groups were fed diet supplemented with 5% terrapin extract or 1% snake extract for 4 weeks. After adaptation for 1 week, each group was divided into two subgroups: one group swam for 90 min (90-min subgroups), and the other swam until exhaustion (all-out subgroups). No significant difference was observed in swimming time until exhaustion among the groups. After swimming for 90 min, contents of fatigue factors of serum such as lactate, inorganic phosphate, creatine kinase, and ammonia were not significantly different (p < 0.05) between control and treatment groups, including all-out subgroups, except for lactate concentration. These results indicated that terrapin or snake extract had little effect on forced-swimming capacity of rats.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.55-65
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• 2002

Ginseng has been used as a key constituent in traditional medicine prescriptions for centuries. Other than its well-known anti-stress and adaptogenic properties, ginseng has also been shown to be very effective in treating age-related deterioration in metabolic and memory functions. Although it is generally believed that the saponin (GS) fraction of the ginseng root accounts for the bioactivity of ginseng, a direct demonstration on which ginsenoside does what is still generally lacking. In the past decade, our laboratory has endeavored to identify the active GS components involved in energy metabolism, memory, and anti-neurotoxicity. To examine the ergogenic effects of GS in enhancing aerobic capacity, rats were subjected to either severe cold ($40^{\circ}C$ under helium-oxygen, two hours) or exercise workload $(70\%\;VO_{2}max,$ to exhaustion). Acute systemic injection (i.p.) of ginseng GS (5-20 mg/kg) significantly elevated both the total and maximum heat production in rats and improved their cold tolerance. However, pretreating the animal with the optimal dose (10 mg/kg) of GS devoid of $Rg_1\;and\;Rb_1$ failed to elicit any beneficial effects in improving cold tolerance. This indicates that either $Rb_1\;and/or\;Rg_1$ may be essential in exemplifying the thermogenic effect of GS. Further studies showed that only pretreating the animals with $Rb_1(2.5-5\;mg/kg),\;but\;not\;Rg_l,$ resulted in an increase in thermogenesis and cold tolerance. In contrast to the acute effect of GS on cold tolerance, enhancement of exercise performance in rats was only observed after chronic treatment (4 days). Further, we were able to demonstrate that both $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are effective in enhancing aerobic endurance by exercise. To illustrate the beneficial effects of GS in learning and memory, a passive avoidance paradigm (shock prod) was used. Our results indicated that the scopolamineinduced amnesia can be significantly reversed by chronically treating (4 days) the rats with either $Rb_1\;or\;Rg_1$ (1.25 - 2.5 mg/kg). To further examine its underlying mechanisms, the effects of various GS on ${\beta}-amyloid-modulated$ acetylcholine (ACh) release from the hippocampal slices were examined. It was found that inclusion of $Rb_1$ (0.1 ${\mu}M$), but not $Rg_1$, can attenuate ${\beta}-amyloid-suppressed$ ACh release from the hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are the key components involved in various beneficial effects of GS but they may elicit their effects through different mechanisms.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in the mass of the muscle. With an increase in life expectancy and chronic illnesses, the incidence of muscle atrophy is increasing and the quality of life of patients is decreasing. Thus, reducing muscle atrophy is of high clinical and socio-economic importance. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used as a traditional medicine in many countries to treat various human illnesses. It has been reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) has diverse biological functions including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity properties, and extension of lifespan. Especially, we have recently reported that KME improves exercise endurance in mice, indicating its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether KME could activate the signaling pathway related to protein synthesis in a mouse model of muscle atrophy. Interestingly, KME efficiently activated the Akt/mTOR pathway, and Akt and mTOR are important signaling hub molecules for the acceleration of protein synthesis in muscle cells. In addition, KME also increased the activity of S6 kinase which is involved in the regulation of muscle cell size. Moreover, the ERK activity, required for transcription of ribosomal RNA for protein synthesis, was also enhanced in KME-treated mouse muscle. These data support the idea that KME increases muscle mass via increased protein synthesis. Our findings also suggest that Korean mistletoe might be a promising candidate for the development of functional foods that are beneficial for preventing muscle atrophy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.446-455
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of different performance sequences of aerobic and strength exercises for 10 weeks on the body composition, physical function, and hormones in males aged in their 20s. A total of 30 subjects (N=30) were assigned randomly to either aerobic and resistance exercise (n=10, A+R), resistance and aerobic exercise (n=10, R+A), or a control group (n=10, CON). The different order of aerobic (HRmax 50-80%, 30 min) and resistance (50-80% 1RM, 30 min) exercises for 10 weeks was consisted of 3 times per week and 80 minutes per session. The body composition, physical function, and hormones were measured before and after the training period. The lean body mass (p=.015) was increased and the fat mass (p=.042) and % body fat (p=.007) in the A+R were decreased. The skeletal muscle mass (p=.001) in the R+A was increased and % body fat was decreased (p=.003). The weight (p=.03) and % body fat (p=.039) in the CON were increased. The aerobic capacity (p=.011) and muscular endurance (p=.001) in the A+R group were improved. The muscular endurance (p=.0016) in the R+A was improved. The epinephrine (p=.048), norepinephrine (p=.013), and cortisol (p=.045) levels in the A+R group were increased. The epinephrine (p=.046) level in the R+A group was increased. The insulin (p=.007) level increased in the CON group. In conclusion, both A+R and R+A groups produced superior results to the CON group but the A+R group was slightly more efficient than the R+A group.