• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2019

There are no published data on Gyeongokgo (GOK) safety or efficacy despite being commonly use. The Gyeongokgo (GOK) is commonly used in traditional Korean medicine to promote a health qi and blood, but their objective data was not sufficient in clinical field. To investigate the safety and efficacy of GOK with hematologic and serologic testing and the change of the quality of life in healthy individuals. Randomized, subject-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot study Participants and Interventions 29 healthy volunteer subjects were randomly placed into the GOK group (n = 20) or placebo control group (n = 9) and instructed to take one treatment packet (GOK or placebo) twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and underwent hematologic and serologic tests and body composition analysis. The FSS total score (p = 0.093) and SF-36 general health index (p = 0.002) were improved following treatment in the GOK group. Post-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in the GOK group compared with pre-treatment levels (p = 0.0042). C-reactive protein levels decreased (p = 0.0256) in the GOK group compared with that the placebo group. In time-series tests, GOK did not affect post-prandial serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or C-peptide levels. Notably, elevations in serum fasting triglycerides at 2- (p = 0.0333) and 4-hours (p = 0.0414) post-prandial were lower than those in the placebo group. GOK reduced fatigue levels and did not significantly affect laboratory test results performed to measure safety, serum glucose, and lipid profiles. Post-meal triglyceride levels were effectively reduced with treatment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.460-469
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• 2019

Purpose: The ${\beta}3-adrenergic$ receptor (ADRB3) is expressed in visceral adipose tissue and has been speculated to contribute to lipolysis, energy metabolism, and regulation of the metabolic rate. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene with the sex of children with obesity and related pathologies. Methods: ADRB3 gene trp64arg genotyping was conducted in 441 children aged 6-18 years. Among these subjects, 264 were obese (103 boys; 161 girls) and 179 were of normal weight (81 boys; 98 girls). In the obese group, fasting lipids, glucose and insulin levels, and blood pressure were measured. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to the modified World Health Organization criteria adapted for children. Results: The frequency of trp64arg genotype was similar in obese and normal weight children. In obese children, serum lipid, glucose, and insulin levels; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores; and MS were not different between arg allele carriers (trp64arg) and noncarriers (trp64trp). In 264 obese children, genetic analysis results revealed that the arg allele carriers were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p=0.001). In the normal weight group, no statistically significant difference was found between genotypes of boys and girls (p=0.771). Conclusion: Trp64arg polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene was not associated with obesity and MS in Turkish children and adolescents. Although no relationships were observed between the genotypes and lipids, glucose/insulin levels, or HOMA-IR, the presence of trp64arg variant was frequent in obese girls, which can lead to weight gain as well as difficulty in losing weight in women.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.99-110
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparison between metabolic syndrome indicators and nutrient intakes in Korean menopausal women from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data (2010~2012). Menopausal Status were classified into premature menopause(n=214) and natural menopause(n=2,546). Among the nutrient groups, retinol intake was a significant factor in natural menopausal women according to BMI levels and riboflavin intake was another significant factor in premature menopausal women according to fasting glucose levels. The results suggested that micronutrient including retinol, riboflavin, fiber and calcium were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome risk in Korean postmenopausal women. Further research is required for elucidating the association between nutrient intakes and incidence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women within a large population in prospective studies.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.263-267
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• 2019

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is globally a major public health issue. Evidence suggests that elevated ferritin levels are associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the serum ferritin level and depression in Korean male adults with respect to classification of the prevailing obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a case-control study; subjects were classified into obese group (${\geq}25.0kg/m^2$, 28 subjects) and normal group ($18.5-22.9kg/m^2$, 27 subjects). A survey was conducted to assess the depression levels as per the guidelines suggested by the Center program for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). Blood was collected from each group for assessing biomarkers, and isolated plasma was evaluated for fasting glucose, insulin, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and ferritin levels. Data were analyzed, and groups were compared with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI), depression scale and biomarkers. RESULTS: The average depression score of the obesity group was 16.86, which was higher than the normal group (12.56). Subjects scoring more than 16 points comprised 53.6% of the population in the obese group, which was more than double that in the normal group, as assessed by the CES-D program. Furthermore, the serum ferritin level of the obesity group was 207.12 ng/mL, which was higher than that of the normal group (132.66 ng/mL). Lastly, the BMI appeared to be significantly correlated with both depression (r = 0.320, P = 0.017) and elevated ferritin levels (r = 0.352, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of existing correlation between ferritin and depression with obesity.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.262-270
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to provide preliminary data for weight management, and prevention and management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We examined the effect of changes in the weight of workers at a manufacturing company over three years on their metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome diagnosis components. Methods: Necessary data were collected from the questionnaire and the results of the Korean National Health Screening of 2015 and 2017, which included 228 workers at a manufacturing company in G region. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. ANCOVA was used to examine the differences in the metabolic syndrome diagnosis components according to weight change. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the odds ratios of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome analysis component, based on the weight changes in the normal weight group and the obesity group. Results: Waist measure, systolic blood pressure, and blood pressure were found to have significant effects based on participants' weight change over three years. These factors increased with a larger increase in weight at a statistically significant level. This study analyzed the weight changes of the normal weight group and the obesity group considering the data from the National Health Screening of 2015, and found that the risk of metabolic syndrome increased at a statistically significant level as body weight increased; thus, the obesity group showed a higher risk in this regard. It was also found that waist measure, fasting blood sugar, and high-density low cholesterol increased at a statistically significant level as body weight increased. Conclusion: Health administrators need to recognize the importance of workers' weight management, select an intensive management group based on a time series analysis of weight changes, and develop and implement programs to manage the metabolic syndrome diagnosis components.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for worm resistance (WR) and associated characteristics, using the linear-threshold animal model via Bayesian inference in single- and multiple-trait analyses. Methods: Data were collected from a herd of Santa Inês breed sheep. All information was collected with animals submitted to natural contamination conditions. All data (number of eggs per gram of feces [FEC], Famacha score [FS], body condition score [BCS], and hematocrit [HCT]) were collected on the same day. The animals were weighed individually on the day after collection (after 12-h fasting). The WR trait was defined by the multivariate cluster analysis, using the FEC, HCT, BCS, and FS of material collected from naturally infected sheep of the Santa Inês breed. The variance components and genetic parameters for the WR, FEC, HCT, BCS, and FS traits were estimated using the Bayesian inference under the linear and threshold animal model. Results: A low magnitude was obtained for repeatability of worm-related traits. The mean values estimated for heritability were of low-to-high (0.05 to 0.88) magnitude. The FEC, HCT, BCS, FS, and body weight traits showed higher heritability (although low magnitude) in the multiple-trait model due to increased information about traits. All WR characters showed a significant genetic correlation, and heritability estimates ranged from low (0.44; single-trait model) to high (0.88; multiple-trait model). Conclusion: Therefore, we suggest that FS be included as a criterion of ovine genetic selection for endoparasite resistance using the trait defined by multivariate cluster analysis, as it will provide greater genetic gains when compared to any single trait. In addition, its measurement is easy and inexpensive, exhibiting greater heritability and repeatability and a high genetic correlation with the trait of resistance to worms.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.1030-1051
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• 2020

Objective: This study investigated the measurement interval in the ultrasonographic gastric emptying test for patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and the correlation between gastric emptying and the findings of various questionnaires. Methods: In total, 119 patients (59 patients with FD and 60 healthy controls) were recruited from July 2018 to June 2020. Gastric volume (GV) and gastric emptying half-time (T1/2) were measured by ultrasonography at fasting and again at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after meals (apple juice, 500 mL, 224 kcal), and the average half-time (average T1/2) was calculated. Questionnaires on food retention (FRQ), phlegm pattern e (PPQ), cold and heat (CHQ), deficiency and excess (DEQ), and spleen-qi deficiency (SQDQ), stomach qi deficiency pattern (SSDQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version (NDI-K) were completed by all participants. The differences in GV and T1/2 were analyzed in participants whose maximal GV occurred at 0 min versus after 0 min. The correlation of the average T1/2 with the questionnaire scores was also analyzed after excluding erroneous data. Results: Patients with FD who took a certain amount of time to reach maximal GV after meals had a greater gastric volume up to about 30 minutes after meals, and the PPQ, DEQ, and NDI-K scores, especially for upper gastrointestinal symptoms and general weakness-related symptoms, showed statistically significant correlations with average T1/2. Conclusions: Ultrasonography can be a quantitative evaluation tool for FD. However, further studies on measurement methods based on FD physiopathology are required.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2020

The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome, metabolic syndrome score, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and beta-cell function (HOMA-B) in obese Korean adults. The study included 1,860 adults aged 20 years or older from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome score (MSS) were positively associated with HOMA-IR (both P<0.001). HOMA-B levels of elevated blood pressure (P<0.001) and elevated fasting blood glucose group (P<0.001) were significantly lower than the normal group. However, the HOMA-B levels of abdominal obesity (P=0.003) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol group (P=0.030) were significantly higher than the normal group. Nevertheless, metabolic syndrome (P<0.001) and MSS (P<0.001) were inversely associated with the HOMA-B levels. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome and MSS were positively associated with insulin resistance and inversely associated with beta-cell function in Korean adults with obesity.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.75-92
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the content and effectiveness of psychosocial support interventions for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: The following databases were searched with no limitation of the time period: Ovid-MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Ovid-Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, NDSL, KoreaMed, RISS, and KISS. Two investigators independently reviewed and selected articles according to the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. ROB 2.0 and the RoBANS 2.0 checklist were used to evaluate study quality. Results: Based on the 14 selected studies, psychosocial support interventions were provided for the purpose of (1) informational support (including GDM and diabetes mellitus information; how to manage diet, exercise, stress, blood glucose, and weight; postpartum management; and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus); (2) self-management motivation (setting goals for diet and exercise management, glucose monitoring, and enhancing positive health behaviors); (3) relaxation (practicing breathing and/or meditation); and (4) emotional support (sharing opinions and support). Psychosocial supportive interventions to women with GDM lead to behavioral change, mostly in the form of self-care behavior; they also reduce depression, anxiety and stress, and have an impact on improving self-efficacy. These interventions contribute to lowering physiological parameters such as fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and 2-hour postprandial glucose levels. Conclusion: Psychosocial supportive interventions can indeed positively affect self-care behaviors, lifestyle changes, and physiological parameters in women with GDM. Nurses can play a pivotal role in integrative management and can streamline the care for women with GDM during pregnancy and following birth, especially through psychosocial support interventions.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2021

Objectives: We investigated the effects of Clean-DM4 (C-DM4), a polyherbal extract consisting of Coptidis Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhiza Radix, and Cinnamomi Cortex on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and diabetes in mice. Methods: The C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks) were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then administrated with C-DM4 extract at 500 mg/kg (p.o.) once daily for 4 weeks. The changes of body weights, calorie intakes, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured in mice. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in mice by enzyme-based assay. It was also observed the histological changes of pancreas, liver, and fat tissues with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The increase of calorie intakes and FBG levels in HFD-induced obesity mice was significantly decreased by oral administration of C-DM4 extract. C-DM4 extract administration was significantly reduced the increased levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT in obesity mice. In addition, C-DM4 extract inhibited lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissues of obesity mice, hyperplasia of pancreatic islets, and enlargement of adipocytes in adipose tissues. Conclusions: Our study indicates that C-DM4 extract could help improve obesity and to prevent diabetes progression.