• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.880-888
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• 2016

Changes in quality characteristics of gochujang prepared with different ingredients (white rice, barley, sorghum and millet, bamboo salt) and meju starters were studied. The gochujang samples were fermented for 6 weeks at $40^{\circ}C$ and analyzed for changes in their physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics. Eight different gochujang samples were prepared: WR-SS-AB, WR-SS-ABL, WR-BS-AB, WR-BS-ABL, MG-SS-AB, MG-SS-ABL, MG-BS-AB, MG-BS-ABL (WR: white rice, MG: mixed grains, SS: solar salt, BS: bamboo salt, AB: Aspergillus oryzae/Bacillus subtilis starter meju, ABL: Aspergillus oryzae/Bacillus subtilis/Lactobacillus plantarum starter meju). There were significant differences between experimental groups in terms of moisture content, pH, acidity, and color value. All gochujang samples showed increased moisture contents and pH as well as increased acidity and amino-type nitrogen during fermentation. MG-BS-ABL showed the highest contents of amino-type nitrogen and free amino acids after 6 weeks of fermentation compared with other experiment groups. In addition, MG-BS-ABL showed the highest sensory analysis score, including appearance, flavor, taste, and overall acceptability after the fermentation of samples. Based on the results, MG-BS-ABL exhibited similar quality characteristics as general gochujang but showed the highest sensory scores and contents of amino-type nitrogen and free amino acids. These results might be due to the high protein contents of mixed grains and high mineral contents of bamboo salt and fermented products from mixed probiotic starters.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.242-253
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• 2008

It is a common clinical practice to recommend taking iron supplements for pregnant women during gestation. Although it is required to ensure adequate iron stores during pregnancy, there has been some debate over the interference effects of excessive iron load, because it is possible to compete in the transport in the intestine and placenta and in binding to serum proteins of other trace minerals. In this study, maternal and neonatal serum concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Cr, Mn, and Co were assessed along with maternal Fe intakes. A total of 124 pregnant women and their term neonates participated voluntarily in this research. The women were divided into one of the three groups {high Fe intake (HFI), median Fe intake (MFI), and low Fe intake (LFI)} by their total Fe intakes and one of the two groups (Anemic and Normal) by their Fe nutritional status. All the data were compared among the three groups and between the two groups also. Total Fe intakes of HFI, MFI, and LFI groups were 140.8 ${\pm}$ 76.1, 68.0 ${\pm}$ 11.2, and 30.2 ${\pm}$ 8.6 mg/day, respectively. Those of Anemic and Normal groups were 90.1 ${\pm}$ 74.8 and 86.6 ${\pm}$ 46.8 mg/day, respectively. Maternal Hb concentration and Hct were not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups but those were significantly different between Anemic and Normal groups. However, neonatal Hb concentration was not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups and between Anemic and Normal groups either. Maternal serum Fe concentrations of the three groups, HFI, MFI, and LFI, were similar but that of Anemic group was significantly lower compared to Normal group. However, there was no significant difference in neonatal serum Fe concentrations among the three groups and between the two groups either. Serum concentrations of the other trace minerals in both mothers and neonates were not significantly different among HFI, MFI, and LFI groups and between Anemic and Normal groups. In addition, in the maternal serum, Fe concentration was positively correlated to Zn and Se concentration, respectively. As for the neonatal serum, Fe concentration showed a positive correlation to Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, and Co concentration, respectively. No trace mineral concentration was found to correlate negatively to Fe concentration in both maternal and neonatal serum, The results in this study indicate that Fe intakes of pregnant women, even if it is considerably above the level of estimated average requirement (EAR), may not affect serum Fe concentration in both mothers and neonates. In addition it might not influence adversely on the availability of other trace minerals including Zn and Cu in both mothers and neonates.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.408-412
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• 2009

The Artemisia capillaris THUNB is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Compositae spp. and probably the most common plant among the various herbal folk remedies being used in the treatment of abdominal pain, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, jaundice and coughing in Korea. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Artemisia capillaris extracts on the amounts of splenocytes-derived cytokine ($TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-10). In in vivo experimental tests using 210 ICR mice with Hepa-1c1c7 or sarcoma 180 cancer line, splenocytes derived cytokine contents were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180 inoculated vehicle controls, HP and SP, compared to those of the intact vehicle control on both the $28^{th}$ day and the $42^{nd}$ day, respectively. However, these decreases of $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-10 levels induced by tumor inoculations were significantly (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) inhibited by mACH (Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts) treatment regardless of the type of experiments and tumor cells inoculated. The results suggest that Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts have prominent anti-inflammation effects on the cancer cell lines Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2 s.112
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• pp.237-248
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• 2005

To determine the content of hazard microcystin (MC) in Han River system and Ecological Ponds in Seoul City and Kyunggi district, a most toxic derivative, microcystin-LR (MCLR) of 15 samples of 7 ponds, 4 rivers and 4 reservoirs during low precipitation and cold season in 2003 were analyzed by ELISA method. With the change of water temperature ($0.4\;{\sim}\;21.9^{\circ}C$), cyanobacteria including Microcystis aeruginosa dominated the cold phytoplankton community in small ecological ponds such as Kyungbokgung Kyunghyaeru (KBP), Seokchon reservoir (SCR), Yangsoori Ryukgakji (YSS), having the long residence time. Contents of MCLR (the detection limit; $0.05\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) were high in cyanobacteria-rich sites, especially, Microcystis aeruginosa. Total MCLR, cell extracted type plus dissolved type, were $1.39\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in KBP, $0.55\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in SCR and $0.59\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in YSS, in the first sampling having a high temperature (>$20^{\circ}C$), while some detected only in YSS during the cold season. As expected, the MCLR content was correlated with Microcystis aeruginosa (r = 0.526 for cell extracted type, r = 0.433 for dissolved type). Therefore, low concentration of MCLR detected in small ponds and Han river system in Seoul metropolitan city and Kyunggi district, maybe hardly affect human recreation activity, especially the drinking water supply.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.317-330
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• 2009

To diminish the levels of organic matters, a novel S-CROM (continuous removal of organic matters in the stream system using freshwater bivalve), was developed and applied to the polluted stream discharging from the wastewater treatment plant, Pocheon stream, Pocheon city (Korea). Major pollutants of the stream were human population and industrial wastewaters. The study was conducted at a small dam constructed within the stream, often called 'bo', and designed with four tanks; no mussels and no sediment (negative control), no mussels and sediment (positive control), 30 mussels and sediment (D1), and 60 mussels and sediment (D2). Physicochemical and biological parameters were measured at 12 hours interval (day and night) after mussel stocking. Results indicated that Anodonta woodiana Lea (D2) clearly removed approximately 72% of chl-$\alpha$ and 57% of suspended solids on second day, however, there were no differences in removal activities between animal densities (P>0.5). Dislike a laboratory CROM system, which previously developed, there were no huge release of nutrient ($NH_3$-N and SRP), due perhaps to the higher flow rate and the lower animal density. Therefore, we may suggest that if we can determine the relevant current and the animal density considering the stream state, an S-CROM system has a strong potential to water quality improvement of eutrophic streams. Some characteristics on both CROM and S-CROM were compared.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2014

This study was conducted to develop a Han-sik database as well as to assess the effects of Han-sik on dietary quality among Koreans. The Han-sik database was developed by a focus group composed of food and nutrition specialists considering the results of Han-sik perception surveys conducted in previous studies for frequently consumed dishes. Among the 1,322 dish items identified in the $4^{th}$ (2007-2009) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 973 items (73.6%) were classified as Han-sik. Han-sik usage was defined as the percentage of Han-sik items of all individually consumed dish items in the dietary data of 22,113 subjects who participated in a 24-hour diet recall in the $4^{th}$ (2007-2009) KNHANES. Dietary quality was evaluated based on adherence to the Korean Food Guidance System (KFGS), which was calculated as the percentage of the number of servings consumed in each food group out of recommended servings according to age and sex. Mean usage of Han-sik was 80.1% and was higher in older age groups, rural areas, as well as in households at the lowest income level. Han-sik usage was also higher on weekdays as well as for breakfast. Adherence to the KFGS was significantly higher for grains, meat fish egg beans, vegetables, and fruits (p<0.001) but lower for milk dairy products and oils fats sugars (p<0.001) across the quartiles of Han-sik usage. The results of this study indicate that Han-sik usage is high among Koreans. Further studies are needed to update the Han-sik database as well as investigate the association between health-related factors and Han-sik use.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.369-376
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of current body weight and body mass index (BMI) at age three and birth weight in developing chronic respiratory illness in childhood and identify possible interaction underlying its mechanism. Methods: The study was carried out with 422 children who were enrolled in a hospital-based birth cohort. Birth related anthropometric data were collected at birth. At age 3 years, the presence of respiratory symptoms was evaluated by using the Korean version of core questionnaire for wheezing and asthma from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Physical examination was carried out to measure the child's weight and height. Results: Children in the lowest birth weight tertile (aOR = 3.97, 95% CI = 0.94-16.68) or highest BMI tertile (aOR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.24-10.95) at three years of age were at an increased risk of chronic respiratory illness. Children who were initially in the lowest birth weight tertile but now belong in the highest weight tertile had higher risk of chronic respiratory illness compared to those who had remained in the middle tertile (OR=16.35, 95% CI=1.66-160.57). Conclusions: Children with lower birth weight or higher BMI were at an increased risk of chronic respiratory illness. In addition, children who were initially in the lowest birth weight tertile but are now in the highest weight tertile had higher risk of chronic respiratory illness compared to those who remained in the middle tertile.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2018

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has recently emerged with anti-aging properties and suppresses inflammation and oxidation. However, its mechanisms of action on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the potential of spermidine for reducing pro-inflammatory and oxidative effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and zebrafish was explored. Our data indicate that spermidine significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 macrophages without any significant cytotoxicity. The protective effects of spermidine accompanied by a marked suppression in their regulatory gene expression at the transcription levels. Spermidine also attenuated the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and reduced LPS-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, spermidine prevented the LPS-induced NO production and ROS accumulation in zebrafish larvae and was found to be associated with a diminished recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Although more work is needed to fully understand the critical role of spermidine on the inhibition of inflammation-associated migration of immune cells, our findings clearly demonstrate that spermidine may be a potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2015

This study was aimed to investigate factors that affected the status of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling poultry carcasses with potential exposure to virulent avian infectious agents. A large outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occurred in South Korea in 2014. Many public officers participated for euthanizing and handling livestock carcass. However, several safety issues with using PPE were revealed. Therefore, a questionnaire survey was conducted for 340 people who participated euthanasia and carcass disposal in the place where HPAI mainly occurred in 2014. It was found that 31.8% of the respondents had ever taken off their protective equipment during operations because of its inconvenience. The most inconvenient PPE was goggles (54.6%), followed by mask (20.2%), latex gloves (11.6%), shoe covers (5.9%) and protective clothing (5.3%). The main complaints about this individual PPE was unclear sight, damp emitted toward eye, sweating, tearing easily and sweating, respectively. Considering such problems of PPE, new possible directions for improvement of gloves and goggles were suggested. With newly developed rubber coating fabric gloves and conventionally using latex and fabric gloves, H3N2 influenza virus transmission experiment was conducted. Rubber coating fabric gloves showed similar efficiency for blocking virus transmission with latex laboratory gloves and were not easily torn by sharp claws of chicken. In addition, air flow control safety eyewear was suggested to minimize moisture formation. The air flow control system efficiently suppressed moisture formation inside the goggles. Therefore our study will provide more specific directions about new PPE development for safety protection of actual wearers.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.333-338
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• 2012

IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating proteins (IQGAPs), which are well-known $Ca^{2+}$-independent calmodulin (CaM) binding proteins, are involved in various cellular functions such as cell proliferation, carcinogenesis and cell migration. The IQGAP3 similar to IQGAP1 has four repeated IQ motifs, which are crucial for CaM binding. It has been recently shown that all four IQ motifs of the IQGAP1 could bind to CaM, while not clear the binding of four IQ motifs of the IQGAP3. In this study, we examined the binding between CaM and each IQ motif of IQGAP3. As a result, we found that IQ2 and IQ3, but not IQ1 and IQ4, have a $Ca^{2+}$-independent CaM binding activity. We also found that IQ(3.5-4.4) on the IQGAP3 has $Ca^{2+}$-dependent CaM binding activity as similar with that of IQGAP1. This finding indicates that IQ motifs of the IQGAP3 plays a dynamic role via different interaction of IQ motifs with $Ca^{2+}$/CaM or apoCaM.