• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2006

This study was conducted to detect the apoptosis incidence in blastocysts and to compare the abundance of Bax, Bcl2L1, VEGF and FGFR2 in in vitro fertilized (IVF), parthenogenetic (PAT) and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. Oocytes matured for 40 hr were enucleated and reconstructed with confluenced fetal fibroblasts (FFs) derived from a ${\sim}45$ day fetus. Reconstructed eggs were then fused with 2 DC pulses (2.0 kV/cm, $30{\mu}sec$) and cultured with $7.5{\mu}g/ml$ cytochalasin B for 3 hr. Parthenotes (PAT) were produced with the same electric strength and culture for NT eggs. The embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 medium at $39^{\circ}C,\;5%\;CO_2,\;5%\l;O_2$ in air. In 3 runs, set of 10 embryos at the 4-cell to blastocyst stages were used to extract total RNA for analyzing the gene expression patterns of pro-apoptotic (Bax), anti-apoptotic (Bcl2L1), vasculogenesis (VEGF), implantation (FGFR2III) using real-time quantitative PCR. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher (P<0.05) in IVF and PAT ($79.3{\pm}8.5\;and\;25.5{\pm}6.1,\;and\;85.0{\pm}6.4\;and\;38.6{\pm}5.5$, respectively)than NT counterparts ($65.1{\pm}5.2\;and\;15.6{\pm}3.0$, respectively). Significantly higher (P<0.05) total cells were observed in IVF controls and PAT ($34.7{\pm}5.8\;and\;38.1{\pm}4.1$) than NT embryos ($24.8{\pm}3.2$). Apoptosis index was significantly lower (P<0.05) in IVF than NT embryos. The Relative abundances (RA) of Bax and VEGF were significantly higher (P<0.05) at blastocyst stage in NT than IVF control. The RA of Bcl2L1 and FGFR2III were significantly higher (P<0.05) at blastocyst stage in IVF than NT. The present study observed the abnormal gene expressions in NT embryos at various developmental stages, suggesting certain clues to find out the cause of the low efficiency of NT to term.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.549-558
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of aerobic exercise on the blood lipids, leptin, ghrelin, and HOMA-IR factors in obese postmenopausal Korean women. Thirty-six healthy postmenopausal women (mean age, $54.47{\pm}2.50$ years) with >32 % body fat were assigned randomly to an aerobic exercise group (n = 18) or to a "no exercise" control group (n = 18). The subjects' body composition, blood lipid, leptin, ghrelin levels, and HOMA-IR were measured before and after a 16-week line-dancing program. The exercise group showed a significant decrease in body weight, percent body fat, body mass index, visceral fat area, leptin, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In addition, this group exhibited a significant increase in the apolipoprotein A-I, ghrelin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The energy metabolic factors that influenced the visceral fat included ghrelin, leptin, insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR. The t-value, which determined the statistical significance of the independent variables, was significant for ghrelin, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05). Regular and continuous aerobic exercise (e.g., line dancing) effectively improved the body composition, visceral fat, serum blood lipids, leptin, ghrelin, and HOMA-IR factors in obese postmenopausal Korean women.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-69
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• 2008

Objective : We investigated the effects of distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture on autonomic nervous system with the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adult man. as well as we tried to observe how distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Method : We investigated the effects of distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture on autonomic nervous system with the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adult man. as well as we tried to observe how distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. 1 healthy volunteers consisted of 31 subjects in experiment(distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture) group and 30 subjects in control(Normal Saline) group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. 31 subjects in experiment group were injected distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture at $GB_{21}$(Kyonjong) and 30 subjects in control group were injected Normal Saline at $GB_{21}$(Kyonjong). except of 2 subjects(in control group) who can't be measured and 11 subjects(7 in experiment group and 4 in control group) who move or make unforceable error during measuring. Finally 24 subject in experiment group and 24 subject in control group are studied. We measured HRV by PolyG-I on 7 times : before and after injection per 5 minutes during 30 minutes. The SPSS 10.0 for windows was used to analyze the data and the paired t-test(in group) and Student t-test(between two groups) were used to verify the result. Result : 1. After distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture injection, Mean HRV is significantly low only for first 5 minute, SDNN is significantly high after 5 minute, Complexity is significantly low after 5 minute, HRV index is significantly high after 10 minute and pNN50 is significantly low after 5 minute. 2. SDNN of distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 20minute to 25minute, and pNN50 of distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly decreased from 10minute to 15minute and 20 minute to 30 minute compared with those of Normal Saline group. 3. After distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture injection, Ln(TP), Ln(VLF) and Ln(LF) are significantly high after 5 minute, normalized LF is significantly high after 5 minute and normalized HF is significantly low after 5 minute. 4. Ln(TP) and Ln(VLF) of distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 20minute to 25 minute compared with those of Normal Saline group. Conclusion : The results suggest that distilled Wild Ginseng Herbal Acupuncture in healthy adult man tend to activate the autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system compared to Normal Saline within normal range.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.429-439
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• 2020

This study examined the effect size of virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function of stroke patients through a meta-analysis. Databases, such as the Research Information Sharing Service, the Korean Studies Information Service System, the National Library of Korea, the Korean Citation Index, and the National Digital Science Library, were used. Previous articles were surveyed for virtual reality programs between January 2010 and June 2019. A meta-analysis was performed by selecting the final 14 studies based on the PICO standard. The RoB and RoBANS tools were used as quality assessment tools for randomized and non-randomized control trials, respectively. The CMA 3.0 program was used to calculate the effect size of each study. Sub-group analysis, meta-regression analysis, and publication bias were performed. The total effect size of the virtual reality programs on the upper extremity function was Hedges's g=0.390 (95% CI: 0.192~0.587) (p<.05). The virtual reality program positively affects the upper extremity function of stroke patients. Therefore, the development of various virtual reality programs and industry-academia cooperation technology for stroke patients is required in accordance with the fourth industry. Randomized control trials and detailed upper extremity function studies for virtual reality programs will be needed in follow-up studies.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.252-258
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• 1998

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of deletion of P, Ca, Zn, Mg, Fe, K, Mn, or Se from mineral premix in the diets containing $40\%$ fish meal on growth performance of juvenile Korean rockfish. Three replicate groups of the fish initially averaging 5.4 g were fed the experimental diets deleted one ot each mineral (P, Ca, Zn, Mg, Fe, K, Mn, Se or all) in the mineral premix for 9 weeks. A basal diet with fish meal ($40\%$), meat meal ($9\%$), soybean meal ($5\%$), corngluten meal ($3\%$), and leather meal ($3\%$) as protein sources were included. Weight gain in fish fed diets deleted Ca, Zn, K, or Se was lower than that of control diet ( P<0.05). Daily feed intake, condition factor, hepatosomatic index and liver chemical composition were not affected by dietary mineral premixes (P>0.05). Apparent skeletal deformities were not observed in the diets deleted each mineral, The data obtained in this study indicate that each of the Ca, Zn, K, or Se should be added in the diet contained $40\%$ fish meal for normal growth of Korean rockfish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2011

This study determined the effects of the dietary moisture level and feeding rate on the growth and gastric evacuation of young olive flounder. Four experimental diets with different moisture levels (9%, 21%, 30%, and 40%) were prepared through the addition of water to the commercial extruded pellet. Three replicate groups of fish (initial weight: $106{\pm}1.4\;g$) were fed diets containing 9%, 21%, 30%, and 40% moisture to satiation or a moisture level of 9% and 30% at a restricted feeding rate (95% of satiation) for 15 weeks. The mean water temperature was $22{\pm}1.6^{\circ}C$ during the feeding trial. Gastric evacuation rates were determined post-feeding. The dietary moisture levels did not significantly affect weight gain, but the weight of the fish receiving 9% and 30% moisture diets to 95% satiation were significantly lower than those of the fish fed 9-40% moisture diets to 100% satiation (P<0.05). The feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, viscerosomatic index, and survival were not significantly affected by the dietary moisture levels and feeding rates. The daily feed intake of the fish fed to 100% satiation did not significantly differ among the treatment groups. The stomach contents that peaked within 3 h of feeding gradually decreased, and the stomachs of fish were completely evacuated within 18 h. The contents of the intestine peaked at 3-12 h post-feeding, and then declined with the intestine being mostly evacuated at 30 h. The moisture of the stomach contents reached approximately 70% within 3 h post-feeding and gradually increased to approximately 75% within 12 h. No considerable differences were observed in the gastric evacuation and moisture levels of the stomach contents in the fish fed the different diets. The results of this study suggest that the gastric evacuation of olive flounder was not affected by the dietary moisture level and that the addition of water into the diet displayed no beneficial effects on the growth of young olive flounder.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.375-385
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• 2009

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the association of food intake with bio-physiological indicators: blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), cholesterol and urine sugar among rural people. Methods: The subjects were 890 inhabitants from 14 towns of G County in Honam province. Data were collected by interview and self-reported with structured questionnaires from April 6th to 30th 2005. Data were analyzed with the frequency, percentage, t-test, $x^2$-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and ANCOVA using SPSS 12.0 program. Results: Pre-hypertensive and hypertensive group was 27.0%, overweight and obese 27.1%, more than 0.90 in WHR 42.0%, more than 201 mg/dl of cholesterol 23.9%, and positive urine sugar was 8.7% in general. Among eleven food groups, fruit intakes were more effective in normotensive group than in the others. Vegetables, liquors, and milk products were 0.90 WHR more effective than the others. Milk products and liquors in BMI, and grains, beans and seaweed in low cholesterol group were more effective than the others. Conclusions: Bio-physiological indicators are related significantly only with fruits, milk products, meats, cereal and liquors among eleven food categories. Further study on the relationship between food intake, physical activities, smoking, drinking and lifestyle with bio-physiological indicators are suggested.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2013

In Incheon bay, mass mortalities of Manila clam associated with winter storms have been reported. In the present study we have monitored pathologic condition of the clams stranded on the tidal flats by the winter storms occurred in late March to early April in 2007. The field surveyed indicated that mortality of the Manila clam in the study areas ranged 10-15%. Condition index, a ratio of tissue weight to the shell weight, of the stranded clams was significantly lower than the non-stranded normal clams collected from the same locations (p < 0.05), indicating that the stranded clams were comparatively in poor physiological condition. Perkinsus olseni, the protozoan parasite was observed most of clams used in the analysis and the infection prevalence ranged 77-90%. The infection intensity of P. olseni determined using Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) cultivation and the 2M NaOH digestion assay indicated that the clams collected during late March and early April in 2007 involved 67,182-1,124,727 P. olseni cells/g tissue. The infection intensity of clams from Gung-Pyeung was significantly higher than the intensities observed from Dae-Bu and Young-Heung (p < 0.05). No clear correlation was found between the infection intensities of P. olseni in the non-stranded normal clams and the stranded clams. The stranded Manila clams were also infected with trematode parasite with the prevalence ranged 5 (Young-Heung) to 12.5% (Dae-Bu). The trematode-infected clams exhibited castrated follicles in the gonad, a typical sign of trematode infection. It was believed that mass mortality of Manila clam observed in this study was associated with the poor physiological condition as indicated by CI, although impacts of the parasite infection cannot be ruled out.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.113-123
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the effects of nutrition support for the elderly in rural communities. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from 148 aged over 65 years in G district(70 intervention group and 78 control group). General characteristics, physical health status, food intake, dietary habits, knowledge of nutrition and nutrition risk factors of the subjects were examined by individual interview. The participants were divided into two groups through the first questionnaire of nutrition: nutritional intervention group(nutritional intervention and education of nutrition) and control group(education of nutrition alone). Results: Nutritional intervention group showed significant increase of energy intake to 87.4% from 71.0% and of most nutrients except vitamin A and niacin after intervention. After nutritional intervention program, depression index was significantly decreased and changes of food habits, self-efficacy and conviction indices were significantly increased. Conclusions: This study showed that the nutritional intervention serving foods for short-term intervention period was very effective in improving the nutritional status. In addition, it suggested that it was not enough for nutritional improvement of the elderly to provide public health education or counseling alone, therefore, for achieving its goals, it should be needed proper nutritional supply to them.