• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제4권6호
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• pp.462-469
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• 2010

Protamine has been widely used as a pharmaceutical product and natural food preservative. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the beneficial function of dietary protamine. This study examined the effects of dietary salmon protamine on serum and liver lipid levels and the expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in lipid homeostasis in the liver of rats. Groups of male Wistar rats were fed AIN93G diet containing 2% or 5% protamine. After 4 weeks of feeding these diets, markedly decreased serum and liver cholesterol (CHOL) and triacylglycerol levels were noted. Increased activity of liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase-2 and acyl-CoA oxidase, which are key enzymes of fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation in the mitochondria and peroxisomes, was found in rats fed on protamine. Furthermore, rats fed protamine showed enhanced fecal excretion of CHOL and bile acid and increased liver mRNA expression levels of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) G5 and ABCG8, which form heterodimers and play a major role in the secretion of CHOL into bile. The decrease in triacylglycerol levels in protamine-fed rats was due to the enhancement of liver ${\beta}$-oxidation. Furthermore, rats fed protamine exhibited decreased CHOL levels through the suppression of CHOL and bile acid absorption and the enhancement of CHOL secretion into bile. These results suggest that dietary protamine has beneficial effects that may aid in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

• Mycobiology
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.228-232
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• 2020

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi and is well known as one of the important medical fungi in Chinese, Korea, and other Asian countries, because of its various beneficial effects on human health. The pharmacological activities of Cordyceps extract are mainly focused on anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, and immune modulating effects. In the present study, we investigated whether the antiplatelet effect of ethanol extract of cultured Cordyceps militaris (CMEE) with FeCl₃-induced arterial thrombosis model. We observed that CMEE exhibited a significant inhibitory effect against ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. However, there were no significant differences in prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). These results suggest that antithrombotic activity of CMEE is related to antiplatelet effect rather than anticoagulation effect, and CMEE may be a positive effect on improving blood circulation against vessel injury and occlusion.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.341-346
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• 2004

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or its mRNA expression are increased in acute nephrosis of various types including ischemia/reperfusion injury. This study was undertaken to determine whether pentoxifylline (PTX), an inhibitor of TNF-α production, provides a protective effect against hypoxia-induced cell injury in rabbit renal cortical slices. To induce hypoxia-induced cell injury, renal cortical slices were exposed to 100% N₂ atmosphere. Control slices were exposed to 100% O₂ atmosphere. The cell injury was estimated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake. Exposure of slices to hypoxia increased the LDH release in a time-dependent manner. However, when slices were exposed to hypoxia in the presence of PTX, the LDH release was decreased. The protective effect of PTX was dose-dependent over the concentrations of 0.05∼1 mM. Hypoxia did not increase lipid peroxidation, whereas an organic hydroperoxide t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. PTX did not affect tBHP-induced lipid peroxidation. Hypoxia decreased PAH uptake, which was significantly attenuated by PTX and glycine. tBHP-induced inhibition of PAH uptake was not altered by PTX, although it was prevented by antioxidant deferoxarnine. The PAH uptake by slices in rabbits with ischemic acute renal failure was prevented by PTX pretreatment. These results suggest that PTX may exert a protective effect against hypoxia-induced cell injury and its effect may due to inhibition of the TNF-α production, but not by its antioxidant action.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.231-235
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• 2015

The beneficial effects of probiotics on human health have been extensively studied. Strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have gained considerable attention, as they are major groups of probiotic bacteria that improve gastrointestinal health. Recently, probiotics have been found to have positive effects on obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) that go beyond the improvement of gut health. Probiotics can alter the secretion of substances such as leptin and adiponectin from white adipose tissue via certain mechanisms. Additionally, probiotics can modulate the adaptive immune system against low-grade inflammation caused by obesity. The potential role of probiotics in the treatment of T2D has garnered interest because of increasing evidence of the anti-diabetic effect of probiotics. In this review, we discuss the results of in vivo studies that have examined the use of probiotics to prevent obesity and T2D, while primarily focusing on the studies that explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of promising probiotic strains. The conclusions of this review could be of help to researchers who are investigating the effects of probiotics on obesity or T2D, and to patients with these diseases.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.257-267
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of ultrasound and myofascial release in patients who have opening mouth limitation and temporomandibular disorder. Methods：Twenty students were randomly assigned to a myofascial release group(n=10) or an ultrasound group(n=7). Each group was treated for 15 minutes per a every treatment session for four weeks. Cervial range of motion(CROM) was used to measure cervical R.O.M., and a mm(millimeter) graduated ruler was used to measure opening mouth limitation. Results：Results of the follows : 1. The neck extension of range of motion of both groups was significantly increased in length of time (p<.05). 2. The neck flexion of range of motion of both groups was significantly increased (p<.05). 3. The quantity of opening mouth of temporomandibular joint of both groups was significantly increased (p<.05). Conclusion：These data suggest that myofascial release and ultrasound are beneficial to increasing a functional recovery of neck(flexion and extension) and opening mouth.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.398-406
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• 2022

Objectives: While the risk of depression is expected to substantially increase among older adults receiving community care, leisure life satisfaction can be regarded as a key component in enhancing the mental health of those receiving community care. However, it is not yet known whether community care utilization increases the risk of depression, or what role is played by leisure life satisfaction in these settings. This study investigated the relationship between community care utilization and depression, as well as the main effect and the moderating role of leisure life satisfaction on the link between community care utilization and depression among older adults. Methods: This study, using the 2019 Korean Welfare Panel Survey, conducted multiple regression analysis on data from 4494 elderly people aged 65 years or older. Results: After controlling for potential covariates, older community care recipients were more likely to report symptoms of depression than those who did not receive community care. Meanwhile, leisure life satisfaction was negatively associated with depression in older adults. The test for interaction between community care utilization and leisure life satisfaction revealed that leisure life satisfaction significantly attenuated the link between depression and community care utilization. Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that leisure life satisfaction could play a meaningful role in improving the mental health of older adults receiving community care. Welfare policies affecting older adults should consider leisure life satisfaction as an important resource for reducing depression in community care settings.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제31권12호
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• pp.1039-1050
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• 2022

Forests are valuable natural resources for people living around the mountains. In particular, the comfortable feeling or healing is one of the most important benefits obtained from forests. This healing can be possible by many aspects of forests, including the landscape, natural sounds, anions, and pleasant aromas. We focused on the volatile organics from forest causing pleasant aromas, phytoncides. Twenty phytoncides were monitored from February to September in a national tree garden (BaekDoDaeGan SooMokWon). Five sites were monitored two times per month and 20 phytoncides were detected. Borneol showed the highest annual average concentration and the order of concentration was borneol > mycene > sabinene > limonene > α-pinene. The average phytoncide concentration was relatively high in spring and summer season when the trees were physiologically active. Daily monitoring showed that the afternoon hours had higher concentrations of phytoncides than the morning hours, which may be due to the stabilized atmospheric conditions at the sites. Among the five sites, coniferous forests gave higher phytoncide emissions than broadleaf tree forests. The current study showed that forests produce several phytoncides that cause a healing effect and a forest bath may be beneficial to the health of visitors to forests.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Objectives: We analyzed the relative beneficial impacts of probiotics and coconut oil-based mouth rinses on oral health. Methods : A total of 33 subjects were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups. Coconut oil and probiotics were given to the experimental group, and distilled water to the control group. We evaluated the possession site of Gingival index, CPITN index, BOP, Pocket depth, and PHP index. Results: In the coconut oil and probiotic groups, Gingival index significantly decreased on both days 15 and 30. CPITN significantly decreased on days 15 and 30 in the coconut oil group (p<0.01), and on day 30 in the probiotic group (p=0.002). There was a significant interaction between group and time for BOP and PHP index (p<0.001), and the coconut oil group was more effective in improving BOP and PHP index. Conclusions: The above results showed that the mediation effect of coconut oil and probiotics was more effective with coconut oil.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.48-58
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mirror therapy on motor function recovery following a stroke through a systemic review and meta-analysis. In total, nine of the 48 studies were identified from search engines between 1997 and 2011, as well as from a review of the reference lists of each identified study. The quality of each study was assessed using Jadad scale, and the effect size was calculated as a Cohen's effect size using MetaAnalyst (Beta 3.13). The overall effect size of the mirror therapy was 2.005 (95% confidence interval=1.041~2.970) in a random-effects model. This finding suggests that mirror therapy is beneficial for improving motor function following a stroke. The results from the subgroup analysis according to categorical variables were as follows: First, the effect size was larger for an onset time of less than 1 year (1.166) than for a duration of 1 year or more (.668). Second, the effect size of unpublished dissertations (1.610) was larger than published articles (1.221). Third, motor recovery of upper extremities (1.609) had a greater effect than motor recovery of lower extremities (.903). The major limitation of this study is the relatively small study population. Therefore, further individual studies of mirror therapy should be conducted in order to generalize the effects. In addition, mirror therapy supervised by a physical therapist should be recognized as a potential approach to manage motor function following a stroke and recommended to patients to improve their motor function.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.75-82
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• 2019

Objectives : In this study, various biological effects of Curcuma longa L. have been studied, however, beneficial effect of Curcuma longa L. in skin health remain still unclear. In this study, Curcuma longa L. water extract (CLE) was prepared. Inhibitory effect of CLE on melanin accumulation of B16F10 cells and expression levels of skin fibril-related proteins of human skin fibroblasts (HSF) were evaluated. Methods : The cytotoxic effect of CLE in B16F10 cells and HSF were examined by MTT assay. Inhibitory effect of CLE on the ${\alpha}-MSH-$ and IBMX-induced melanin accumulation and tyrosinase activity were evaluated in B16F10 cells. The expression levels of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2), Smad2, procollagen $1{\alpha}2$, collagen $1{\alpha}2$, and fibronectin in CLE-treated HSF were analyzed by western blotting. Results : The CLE treatment (concentrations 10 to $400{\mu}g/ml$) for 72 h did not affect to the B16F10 viability. However, 200 and $400{\mu}g/ml$ of CLE treatment for 24 h showed cytotoxic effect in HSF. Therefore, the concentrations 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of CLE were chosen in this study. The CLE treatment for 72 h dose dependently and significantly suppressed melanin accumulation and tyrosinase activity of B16F10 cells. In addition, the CLE treatment up-regulated expression levels of skin fibril-related proteins such as CCN2, Smad2, procollagen $1{\alpha}2$, collagen $1{\alpha}2$, and fibronectin. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that the CLE could be used as a natural material for skin health.