• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2011

In this study, we determined the changes in microbial numbers in solar salts according to the manufacturing process and storage duration. The salt samples were harvested from salt farms in Shinan (area 2) and Yeonggwang (area 1). They were serially diluted ten-fold and then placed on 4 kinds of cultivable media (mannitol salt agar, eosin methylene blue, plate count agar, and trypticase soy agar). After incubation, we obtained 62 halophilic isolates from the salt samples. Coliform and general bacteria were not detected in all salt samples. By 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, we found 12 kinds of halophilic bacteria belonging to the genera Halobacillus, Halomonas, Bacillus, Idiomarina, Marinobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio, Salinivibrio, Virgibacillus, Alteromonas, Staphylococcus and some un-known stains. In our study, we discovered two novel species that have a 16S rDNA sequence similarity below 97%.

• Food Industry And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2016

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

Liver enzyme elevations, as an indicator of liver function, are widely associated with metabolic diseases. Genome-wide population-based association studies have identified a genetic susceptibility to liver enzyme elevations and their related traits; however, the genetic architecture in childhood remains largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify new genetic loci for liver enzyme levels in a Korean childhood cohort (n = 484). We observed three novel loci (rs4949718, rs80311637, and rs596406) that were multiply associated with elevated levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. Although there are some limitations, including genetic power, additional replication and functional characterization will support the clarity on the genetic contribution that the ST6GALNAC3, ADAMTS9, and CELF2 genes have in childhood liver function.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2009

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have significantly beneficial effects on health in relation to cardiovascular, immune, and inflammatory conditions and they are involved in determining the biophysical properties of membranes as well as being precursors for signaling molecules. PUFA biosynthesis is catalyzed by sequential desaturation and fatty acyl elongation reactions. This aerobic biosynthetic pathway was thought to be taxonomically conserved, but an alternative anaerobic pathway for the biosynthesis of PUFA is now known to contain analogous polyketide synthases (PKS). Certain fish oil can be a rich source of PUFA although processed marine oil is generally undesirable as food ingredients because of the associated objectionable flavors that are difficult and cost-prohibitive to remove. Oil-seed plants contain only the 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, which is not converted in the human body to EPA and DHA. It is now possible to engineer common oilseeds which can produce EPA and DHA and this has been the focus of a number of academic and industrial research groups. Recent advances and future prospects in the production of EPA and DHA in oilseed crops are discussed here.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2016

Osteoporotic fractures (OFs) are critical hard outcomes of osteoporosis and are characterized by decreased bone strength induced by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration in bone tissue. Most OFs cause acute pain, hospitalization, immobilization, and slow recovery in patients and are associated with increased mortality. A variety of genetic studies have suggested associations of genetic variants with the risk of OF. Genome-wide association studies have reported various single-nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations (CNVs) in European and Asian populations. To identify CNV regions associated with OF risk, we conducted a genome-wide CNV study in a Korean population. We performed logistic regression analyses in 1,537 Korean subjects (299 OF cases and 1,238 healthy controls) and identified a total of 8 CNV regions significantly associated with OF (p < 0.05). Then, one CNV region located on chromosome 20q13.12 was selected for experimental validation. The selected CNV region was experimentally validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The CNV region of chromosome 20q13.12 is positioned upstream of a family of long non-coding RNAs, LINC01260. Our findings could provide new information on the genetic factors associated with the risk of OF.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1090-1095
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• 2014

Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, are natural water-soluble pigments, which are mainly found in vegetables and fruits. Anthocyanins have attractive pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of anthocyanins-rich fraction (ANF) from Korean purple sweet potato variety, "Shinjami", against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced oxidative stress. In our results, pre-treatment of HepG2 cells with ANF ($10{\mu}g/mL$) significantly prevented cell death and maintained cell integrity, following exposure to 0.9 mM hydrogen peroxide. The $H_2O_2$-dependent production of intracellular ROS was also significantly decreased by pre-treatment with ANF (6 h, $10{\mu}g/mL$). In addition, ANF increased the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and glutathione level in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. These results indicated that ANF protected HepG2 cells against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by inducing protective system.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2011

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. To investigate whether there are anti-adipogenic activities in various Korean cereals, we assessed water extracts of nine cereals. The results showed that treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, Setaria italica Beauvois, or Panicum miliaceum L. extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation, as determined by measuring oil red-O staining, triglyceride accumulation, and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Among the nine cereals, P. miliaceum L. showed the highest anti-adipogenic activity. The effects of P. miliaceum L. on mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ were evaluated revealing that the extract significantly decreased the expression of these genes in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, P. miliaceum L. extract changed the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids in adipocytes, which is related to biological activity and cell characteristics. These results suggest that some cereals efficiently suppress adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In particular, the effect of P. miliaceum L. on adipocyte differentiation is associated with the downregulation of adipogenic genes and fatty acid accumulation in adipocytes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

Seven phenolic compounds including p-coumaric acid (1), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), vanillic acid (4), luteolin (5), acacetin (6), and tricin (7), were isolated from the methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions of Echinochloa utilis grains. Compounds (1 - 4, 6) were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds were tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 5 and 6 displayed significant inhibitory effects, with $IC_{50}$ values of $27.9{\pm}2.6$ and $14.0{\pm}1.1{\mu}M$, respectively. The results suggested that E. utilis ethanolic extract may be used as a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents and functional foods for the treatment of allergic diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.511-519
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• 2011

Dietary intake of whole grains reduces the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In an earlier study, we showed that Panicum miliaceum L. extract (PME) exhibited the highest anti-lipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells among extracts of nine different cereal grains tested. In this study, we hypothesized that PME in the diet would lead to weight loss and augmentation of hyperlipidemia by regulating fatty acid metabolism. PME was fed to ob/ob mice at 0%, 0.5%, or 1% (w/w) for 4 weeks. After the experimental period, body weight changes, blood serum and lipid profiles, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression, and white adipose tissue (WAT) fatty acid composition were determined. We found that the 1% PME diet, but not the 0.5%, effectively decreased body weight, liver weight, and blood triglyceride and total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) compared to obese ob/ob mice on a normal diet. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, FAS, and SCD1) expression decreased, whereas lipolysis-related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Long chain fatty acid content and the ratio of C18:1/C18:0 fatty acids decreased significantly in adipose tissue of animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Serum inflammatory mediators also decreased significantly in animals fed the 1% PME diet compared to those of the ob/ob control group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that PME is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 2015

Objective : This study is for providing data about men's functional sport underpants. It provides the fundamental data of biomechanics by measuring and analyzing the functionality of various underpants using infrared thermal image camera. Method : Then author drew a conclusion based on the final analysis of 965 questionnaire survey results about issues on men's functional sport underpants after discarding invalid questionnaires, as following. Change in body temperature while wearing functional underpants compared to general briefs or boxer pants showed lower temperature by approximately 1~2 degrees Celsius. In the case of general underpants, wearer sweats and feels hotter due to the friction of penis, scrotum and thigh. However functional sport functional underpants improved this issue with ergonomic 3D design by putting penis towards the lower part of the abdomen(below the navel) while putting the scrotum comfortably on the testicles, which enables to make room between the penis, scrotum and thigh of a wearer. Results : This was analyzed to lower the temperature of penis and scrotum. The survey results about the quality of functional underpants showed that 78% of the respondents felt comfortable while driving; 68.5% replied that frictional heat decreased while working out; 78.7% felt less sweat and humidity; 81.7% replied as highly wearable and comfortable; 77.1% replied functional sport underpants were the most comfortable in routine lives or in workout times. Putting all such results together, it is possible to conclude that functional sport is an excellent product. Conclusion : This can be evaluated as an excellent functional sport underpants, towards the penis abdomen (under the navel) in 3D human engineering design, by the scrotum to wearing to be easier to scrotum of pocket, the penis and scrotum and thighs were separated and analyzed with a function that will lower the body temperature of the penis and scrotum.