• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.187-208
• /
• 2006

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the risk factors of Oral cleft and to inspect the living environments of the rural areas of Sintang, Indonesia Methods: During 3 to 9 August 2004, A questionnaire survey was done for the risk factors of oral cleft. Case group was composed of 11 oral cleft patients who admitted Missionary Hospital whose mother's bloods were analyzed for anemia and hyperlipidemia. Control group was composed of 56 reproductive rural women recruited from near rural villages. Also we surveyed 4 rural areas of Indonesia with simple water test kits. $x^2-test$ for significant difference was analysed. Results: Drinking water was statistically significant risk factor(p<0.05) of oral cleft. Other factors had no statistical significancy. The kind of drinking water was river-originated water. In rural villages, water sanitation state, even boiled water, was very poor. Although $NO_2-N$, $NO_3-N$ was negative, E. coli-form microorganisms were strongly positive in most samples. Total food intake amount was not enough, and vitamin supplements were also under the need. Conclusions: Drinking the contaminated river-water around pregnancy was supposed to be one of the risk factors of oral cleft in Indonesia. Further study is needed for nitrate and mercury.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.1576-1581
• /
• 2007

Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by $5-HT_3$ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), $5-HT_3$ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 mg/kg, or NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 mg/kg and NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexone#s suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.529-539
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Sprouts of evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata, OL) were reported to have high contents of flavonoids and potent antioxidant activity. This study examined the antioxidant and antiobesity activities of OL sprouts to determine if they could be a natural health-beneficial resource preventing obesity and oxidative stress. Methods: OL sprouts were extracted with 50% ethanol, evaporated, and lyophilized (OLE). The in vitro antioxidant activity of OLE was examined using four different tests. The antiobesity activity and in vivo antioxidant activity from OLE consumption were examined using high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice. Results: The IC₅₀ for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of OLE were 26.2 ㎍/mL and 327.6 ㎍/mL, respectively. OLE exhibited the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity of 56.7 ㎍ ascorbic acid eq./mL at 100 ㎍/mL, and an increased glutathione level by 65.1% at 200 ㎍/mL compared to the control in the hUC-MSC stem cells. In an animal study, oral treatment with 50 mg or 100 mg of OLE/kg body weight for 14 weeks reduced the body weight gain, visceral fat content, fat cell size, blood leptin, and triglyceride levels, as well as the atherogenic index compared to the high fat diet control group (HFC) (p < 0.05). The blood malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the catalase and SOD-1 activities in adipose tissue were reduced significantly by the OLE treatment compared to HFC as well (p < 0.05). In epididymal adipose tissue, the OLE treatment reduced the mRNA expression of leptin, PPAR-γ and FAS significantly (p < 0.05) compared to HFC while it increased adiponectin expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OLE consumption has potent antioxidant and antiobesity activities via the suppression of oxidative stress and lipogenesis in DIO mice. Therefore, OLE could be a good candidate as a natural resource to develop functional food products that prevent obesity and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.239-247
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to improve the efficacy and functionality of Viola mandshurica (VM). A water suspension of VM power was fermented for 72 hr with Bacillus methylotrophicus CBMB205 (BM) and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides NRIC1777 (LP) isolated from kimchi. The antioxidant activity and reducing power of fermented VM, its total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, as well its inhibitory activity on ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase were determined and compared to those of non-fermented VM (NVM), a negative control. The total phenolic and flavonoid compounds of VM fermented with BM and LP were higher than those of NVM by 1.4, 1.17, and about 3 times. There was no difference in 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity between fermented VM and NVM. However, there was a 2.1- and 1.6-fold increase in 2, 2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothzoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity in VM fermented with BM and LP, respectively. The reducing power of BM was 1.6 times as high as NVM, but no significant difference was found between LP and NVM. Fermented VM's inhibitory activity on ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase was much higher than that of NVM. Fermenting VM with BM was superior to fermenting it with LP, except flavonoid content. Taken together, VM fermented with BM could be used as a functional food and as an additive to cosmetics.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.343-355
• /
• 2022

This study investigated the consumption tendency and awareness of paprika in order to expand and promote the consumption of Capsicum annuum L. The research investigated the relationship of preference and loyalty based on emotional response of paprika according to the semantic differential scale. The survey was conducted from January to February 2022 using a random sampling method targeting 155 general people, and a total of 142 questionnaires were analyzed excluding 13 wrong answers. The nine items on the awareness of paprika showed to be consisted of three factors such as 'Food taste', 'Usability', and 'Economics' by factor analysis. Regarding to the awareness of paprika the positive answer that 'I think paprika is good for health' among the nine questions was the highest at 92.3%. In the preference aspect of shape, blocky type had the highest preference for the shape of paprika, followed by mini and conical types in order of preference (p < 0.001). As for color preference, yellow paprika was the most preferred, followed by orange, red, and green, showing statistical significance. The emotional response of paprika by paprika image showed a statistically significant difference in the four colors. The words such as 'bright', 'clean', and 'spirited' appeared as representative emotional vocabulary for paprika. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the effect of paprika on the three factors of awareness, preference, and loyalty due to the quality of life. As a result, the higher the paprika preference and quality of life, and the higher the taste and availability factors, the higher the paprika awareness and loyalty. As the variable that has the most influence on the loyalty of the survey respondents, preference was found to have the highest explanatory power at 43%. From these results, it was judged as a very important factor in the survey on the shape and color preference of paprika. Therefore, the recent increase in awareness that paprika is good for health is thought to act as a positive factor in revitalizing the domestic market and increasing consumption of paprika in the future. Also, among the three types of paprika, the yellow blunt type showed the highest preference. Therefore, in order to produce and promote this type of paprika, it is also important to increase the cultivation to suit the purchasing propensity of consumers.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.185-200
• /
• 2022

The risk of various hazardous substances in aquatic environment comprises not only the concentration of substances in the environmental medium but also their accumulation in fish through complex food web and the health risks to humans through the fish. In Korea, the monitoring of residual toxicant in aquatic ecosystems began in 2016 following the enforcement of the Acts on registration and evaluation for the management of chemicals used in daily life (consumer chemical products), and attention has been paid to potentially hazardous substances attributed to them. Recently, studies have been carried out to investigate the distribution of these hazardous substances in the ecosystem and calculate their emission factors. These include the accumulation and transport of substances, such as detergents, dyes, fragrances, cosmetics, and disinfectants, within trophic levels. This study summarizes the results of recently published research on the inflow and distribution of hazardous substances from consumer chemical products to the aquatic environment and presents the scientific implication. Based on studies on aquatic environment monitoring techniques, this study suggests research directions for monitoring the residual concentration and distribution of harmful chemical substances in aquatic ecosystems. In particular, this study introduces the directions for research on trophic position analysis using compound specific isotope analysis and trophic magnification factors, which are needed to fulfill the contemporary requirements of selecting target fish based on the survey of major fish that inhabit domestic waters and assessment of associated health risk. In addition, this study provides suggestions for future biota monitoring and chemical research in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2023

The objective of the study was to examine the associations of dietary carbohydrate and fat intake with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean women. A cross-sectional study was employed based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination (2007-2016). A total of 22,850 women aged 19 to 69 years were studied after excluding responses from pregnant or lactating women and those with missing metabolic values. Dietary intake data were collected with a 24-hour recall method. Dietary carbohydrate and fat intakes were divided into quintiles. After controlling for confounding variables, a multivariable logistic regression and general linear model were used. The findings indicated that HDL cholesterol levels were lower (p for trend<0.01), while triglyceride levels (p for trend=0.04), waist circumference (p for trend<0.01), and systolic blood pressure (p for trend<0.01) were higher among participants in the highest quintile of carbohydrate intake compared to those in the lowest quintile. Participants in the highest quintile of fat intake had lower waist circumference (p for trend=0.02), triglyceride level (p for trend<0.01), and systolic blood pressure (p for trend<0.01), while higher HDL cholesterol level (p for trend<0.01) compared to those in the lowest fat intake quintile. Metabolic syndrome was more likely to be present in the highest quintile of carbohydrates intake than in the lowest quintile (5^th quintile vs. 1^st quintile, OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.57). However, metabolic syndrome was less likely to be present in the highest quintile of fat intake than in the lowest quintile (5^th quintile vs. 1^st quintile, OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.86). This study revealed that high dietary carbohydrate intake and low dietary fat intake were associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean women.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2016

This study was carried out to compare microbiological and hygienic quality characteristics of the products reached expiration date among meat products distributing in markets. A total of 20 meat products(6 hams, 3 bacons and 11 sausages) were examined for analyses of pH, Aw, TBARS, VBN, total aerobic microbial counts, and meat colors. The pH values of samples were between 5.33 and 6.59. The water activity (Aw) of samples ranged 0.90-0.93. TBARS and VBN values of samples were 0.11-0.59 and 2.37~14.75, respectively. The contaminated levels of total aerobic bacteria were less than 2.80 CFU/g. In meat color, L*, a*, and b* values of samples were in the range of 56-72, 5.2-34 and 0.7-16, respectively. It is suggested that the quality difference of meat products is attributed to the different additives and manufacturing processes. Therefore, we suggest that the results of this study are not only applied for evaluation of the microbiological and hygienic safety but also served as fundamental information for re-establishing the shelf-life of meat products.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.90-107
• /
• 2024

This study analyzed the status of urban agricultural regulation of metropolitan governments on supporting multi-dimensional values to suggest a direction for improving urban agriculture regulations. Moreover, a Delphi survey was conducted to derive ways to identify improvement opportunities for functions that showed relatively insufficient support for urban agricultural regulations. As a result of the study, 12 out of 17 metropolitan governments and 116 of 226 municipalities have enacted urban agricultural regulations. However, the enactment of urban agricultural regulations has generally declined since 2011. Analysis of the contents of the urban agricultural regulations showed that they focused on matters relating to the creation and expansion of the foundation of urban agriculture. Among the multi-dimensional values of urban agricultural regulations, the foundation for supporting the securing of green spaces and utilizing food production functions was most widely available. On the other hand, the foundation for support of resource recycling, healing and health, social welfare, economic imbalance mitigation, and job creation functions has been shown to be relatively insufficient. A Delphi survey conducted to determine potential measures to improve urban agricultural regulations to support these functions found that 17 of the 18 ordinance improvement measures were valid. Therefore, to revitalize the multi-dimensional values of urban agriculture, it is first necessary to enact new ordinances. Also, to revitalize the multi-dimensional values of urban agriculture evenly, it is necessary to revise the ordinances to include resource recycling, healing and health, social welfare, mitigation of economic imbalances, and job creation functions. In this process, the development of urban agriculture technology, legal review of various urban farming spaces, and fostering of industries related to urban agriculture are necessary. Above all, steady interest in the multi-dimensional values of urban agriculture and the efforts of local governments to foster urban agriculture must be supported.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
• /
• v.6
• /
• pp.35-50
• /
• 2024

"Culture refers to the behavioral and lifestyle patterns that a society has shared and transmitted within the community over a long period. Ginseng, frequently encountered in the daily life of Koreans through tools, crafts, folklore, and poetry, holds a deep place in the behavioral and lifestyle patterns of the Korean people. Ginseng, engraved in everyday objects, crafts, and poems, is symbolic in our culture as a representation of longevity and well-being. Ginseng elegantly depicted on ceramics serves as a symbol of longevity along with aesthetic beauty. The common inclusion of ginseng in ritual items in mountain deity beliefs, particularly represented by the 'Bullocho' (不老草) ginseng, reflects a strong belief in the mystical qualities of ginseng associated with longevity and prosperity. The incorporation of ginseng into commonly used everyday tools such as rice cakes, dining tables, decorations, matches, and fans suggests that ginseng was considered a talisman symbolizing health and longevity, kept close as a wish for good fortune. Rice cakes, often presented at ceremonies like ancestral rites, 60th-anniversary celebrations, weddings, and birthdays, had ginseng patterns carved into them as a way for our ancestors to inscribe the spirit and health-symbolizing ginseng onto the food. In family communities, ginseng patterns are frequently found on utensils related to eating, such as chopsticks, spoons, tea cups, and trays. Among the various folklore related to ginseng being passed down, the most prevalent are anecdotes illustrating its efficacy. Ginseng, gifted and exchanged as a symbol of gratitude in letters and poems, goes beyond being a mere medicinal herb to embody friendship and blessings. The symbolism of ginseng, as revealed in everyday objects, artworks, poems, and letters, can be summarized as follows: 1. In folklore and legends, ginseng symbolized filial piety offered to parents. 2. It represented gratitude sent to respected teachers and close friends. 3. Ginseng depicted on daily objects and artworks not only showcased aesthetics but also played a magical role in symbolizing longevity and well-being. Ginseng patterns on items like rice cake molds and dining tables embody the spirit of a caring community, wishing for longevity and prosperity."