• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 2023

Recent studies have evaluated the association between specific beverage intake and metabolic risks in adults. However, more evidence is needed to examine the association between the Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) and metabolic factors. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between HBI and metabolic factors in adults. In this cross-sectional study, 338 overweight and obese individuals living in Tabriz, Iran were selected. Data on beverage consumption, demographics, physical activity, and anthropometric characteristics were evaluated using validated standard protocols. The predefined HBI was calculated based on previous studies. The mean value of HBI index among all of the participants was 59.76 ± 6.51. Those at the higher HBI scores had significantly lower waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass, and weight (p < 0.05). HBI and triglyceride scores also had a significant relationship. It has been shown that at higher HBI scores compared to lower scores, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increase while homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and blood pressure decrease. HBI scores higher among Iranian adults were associated with a better chance of losing weight and weight loss and a better lipid profile, and lower blood pressure. Therefore, HBI can be a useful and helpful tool for assessing the overall quality of beverages adults consume. However, further studies are warranted to confirm the possible health effects of healthy beverage index.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2023

Adequate nutritional support is crucial in preventing complications and improving outcomes in critically ill patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a mode of supportive care for patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. ECMO patients frequently exhibit a hypermetabolic state characterized by protein catabolism and insulin resistance, which can lead to malnutrition. Nutritional therapy is a vital component of intensive care, but its optimal administration for ECMO patients is unknown. This case report aims to provide insights into effective nutritional management for critically ill patients undergoing ECMO therapy. The patient was a 72-year-old male with a history of gastric and lung cancer who underwent a lobectomy complicated by bronchopleural fistula, postoperative bleeding, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient's nutritional status was assessed indicating a high risk of malnutrition, using the modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) Score. Nutritional support was administered based on the recommendations of European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), with energy requirements set at 25-30 kcal/kg/d and protein requirements set at 1.2-2.0 g/kg/day. The patient received parenteral nutrition until the enteral nutrition target amount was reached, with zinc supplements for wound healing. The study highlights the need for further research on proactive and effective nutritional support for ECMO patients to improve compliance and prognosis.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.655-676
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• 2023

Interest in sex differences in coronary artery disease (CAD) has been steadily increasing. Concurrently, most of the data on these differences have primarily been Western-oriented. The KoRean wOmen'S chest pain rEgistry (KoROSE), started in 2011, has since published numerous research findings. This review aims to summarize the reported differences between men and women in CAD, integrating data from KoROSE. Cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women escalates dramatically due to the decrease in estrogen levels, which normally offer cardiovascular protective effects. Lower estrogen levels can lead to abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, increased blood pressure, and endothelial dysfunction in older women. Upon analyzing patients with CAD, women are typically older and exhibit more cardiovascular risk factors than men. Diagnosing CAD in women tends to be delayed due to their symptoms being more atypical than men's. While in-hospital outcome was similar between sexes, bleeding complications after percutaneous coronary intervention occur more frequently in women. The differences in long-term prognosis for CAD patients between men and women are still a subject of ongoing debate. Pregnancy and reproductive factors also play a significant role as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. A notable sex disparity exists, with women found to use fewer cardiovascular protective drugs and undergo fewer interventional or surgical procedures than men. Additionally, women participate less frequently than men in clinical research. Through concerted efforts to increase awareness of sex differences and mitigate sex disparity, personalized treatment can be provided. This approach can ultimately improve patient prognosis.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2024

Objectives: Metabolic disease is strongly associated with future insulin resistance, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Thus, identifying early biomarkers of metabolic-related disease based on serum profiling is useful to control future metabolic disease. Our study aimed to assess the association of serum branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids (AAAs) ratio and metabolic disease according to body mass index (BMI) status among Korean adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 78 adults aged 20-59 years in Korea. We compared serum amino acid (AA) levels between adults with normal-weight and adults with obesity and investigated biomarkers of metabolic disease. We examined serum AA levels, blood profile, and body composition. We also evaluated the association between serum AAs and metabolic-related disease. Results: The height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip-ratio, body fat mass, body fat percent, skeletal muscle mass, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the group with obesity compared to normal weight group. The group with obesity showed significantly higher levels of BCAA, AAA, and BCAA and AAA ratio. Further, BCAA and AAA ratio were significantly positively correlated with triglyceride, body weight, and skeletal muscle mass. The evaluation of metabolic disease risks revealed an association between the ratios of BCAAs and AAAs, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Our study is showed the associations between BCAA and AAA ratio, obesity, and obesity-related diseases using various analytical approaches. The elevated BCAA and AAA ratio could be early biomarkers for predicting future metabolic diseases in Korean population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1383-1391
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• 2016

Anti-estrogen drugs such as tamoxifen have been used for treating patients with ER-positive, early breast cancer. However, resistance to anti-estrogen treatment is inevitable in most patients. Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance-3 (BCAR3) has been identified as the protein responsible for the induction of tamoxifen resistance in estrogen-dependent human breast cancer. We have previously reported that BCAR3 regulates the cell cycle progression and the signaling pathway of EGF and insulin leading to DNA synthesis. In this study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in regulating c-Jun transcription in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial MCF-12A cells. A transient transfection of BCAR3 increased both the mRNA and protein of c-Jun expression, and stable expression of BCAR3 increased c-Jun protein expression. The overexpression of BCAR3 directly activated the promoter of c-jun, AP-1, and SRE but not that of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Furthermore, single-cell microinjection of BCAR3 expression plasmid in the cell cycle-arrested MCF-12A cells induced c-Jun protein expression, and co-injection of dominant negative mutants of Ras, Rac, and Rho suppressed the transcriptional activity of c-Jun in the presence of BCAR3. Furthermore, stable expression of BCAR3 increased the proliferation of MCF-12A cells. The microinjection of inhibitory materials such as anti-BCAR3 antibody and siRNA BCAR3 inhibited EGF-induced c-Jun expression but did not affect IGF-1 induced upregulation of c-Jun. Taken together, we propose that BCAR3 plays a crucial role in c-Jun protein expression and cell proliferation and that small GTPases (e.g., Ras, Rac, and Rho) are required for the BCAR3-mediated activation of c-Jun expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1200-1208
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• 2009

Tight junctions (TJs) that act as paracellular permeability barriers play an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the tightening of TJs, permeability and the invasive activity of genistein - a bioactive isoflavone of soybeans - in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The inhibitory effects of genistein on cell proliferation, motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with the increased tightness of the TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and a decrease in paracellular permeability. Additionally, the immunoblotting results indicated that genistein repressed the levels of the proteins that comprise the major components of TJ, claudin-3 and claudin-4, which play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, genistein decreased the metastasis-related gene expressions of insulin like growth factor-1 receptor and snail, while concurrently increasing that of thrombospondin-1 and E-cadherin. In addition, we demonstrated that claudins play an important role in the anti-motility and invasiveness of genistein using claudin-3 small interfering RNA. Taken together, our results indicate a possible role for genistein as an inhibitor of cancer cell invasion through the tightening of TJs, which may counteract the up-regulation of claudins. In addition, our results indicate that this may be beneficial for the inhibition of tumor metastasis.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.23.1-23.15
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• 2024

The widespread use of antimicrobials causes antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The use of butyric acid and its derivatives is an alternative tactic. This review summarizes the literature on the role of butyric acid in the body and provides further prospects for the clinical use of its derivatives and delivery methods to the animal body. Thus far, there is evidence confirming the vital role of butyric acid in the body and the effectiveness of its derivatives when used as animal medicines and growth stimulants. Butyric acid salts stimulate immunomodulatory activity by reducing microbial colonization of the intestine and suppressing inflammation. Extraintestinal effects occur against the background of hemoglobinopathy, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, and cerebral ischemia. Butyric acid derivatives inhibit histone deacetylase. Aberrant histone deacetylase activity is associated with the development of certain types of cancer in humans. Feed additives containing butyric acid salts or tributyrin are used widely in animal husbandry. They improve the functional status of the intestine and accelerate animal growth and development. On the other hand, high concentrations of butyric acid stimulate the apoptosis of epithelial cells and disrupt the intestinal barrier function. This review highlights the biological activity and the mechanism of action of butyric acid, its salts, and esters, revealing their role in the treatment of various animal and human diseases. This paper also discussed the possibility of using butyric acid and its derivatives as surface modifiers of enterosorbents to obtain new drugs with bifunctional action.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.446-455
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of different performance sequences of aerobic and strength exercises for 10 weeks on the body composition, physical function, and hormones in males aged in their 20s. A total of 30 subjects (N=30) were assigned randomly to either aerobic and resistance exercise (n=10, A+R), resistance and aerobic exercise (n=10, R+A), or a control group (n=10, CON). The different order of aerobic (HRmax 50-80%, 30 min) and resistance (50-80% 1RM, 30 min) exercises for 10 weeks was consisted of 3 times per week and 80 minutes per session. The body composition, physical function, and hormones were measured before and after the training period. The lean body mass (p=.015) was increased and the fat mass (p=.042) and % body fat (p=.007) in the A+R were decreased. The skeletal muscle mass (p=.001) in the R+A was increased and % body fat was decreased (p=.003). The weight (p=.03) and % body fat (p=.039) in the CON were increased. The aerobic capacity (p=.011) and muscular endurance (p=.001) in the A+R group were improved. The muscular endurance (p=.0016) in the R+A was improved. The epinephrine (p=.048), norepinephrine (p=.013), and cortisol (p=.045) levels in the A+R group were increased. The epinephrine (p=.046) level in the R+A group was increased. The insulin (p=.007) level increased in the CON group. In conclusion, both A+R and R+A groups produced superior results to the CON group but the A+R group was slightly more efficient than the R+A group.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.341-349
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular treadmill running on GLUT4 protein of skeletal muscle in STZ-diabetic rats. I used 19 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 140 to 160 grams. Rats were randomly assigned into normal, diabetes(DM) and DE(DE) groups. The exercise was loaded with treadmill running for 5 days per week during 4 weeks. All experimental procedures were carried out following overnight fasting 48 hours after last exercise. Gain(gm) in body weight in DM rats(822.4) was lowered compared to normal rats(1092.8), and decreased by exercise. Plasma glucose concentration(mg/dl) in DM rats was 1433.1 which is higher than that of normal group of 1036.4. The concentration of DE group was lower than that of DM rats. Plasma insulin concentration(${\mu}U/ml$) of DM and DE rats was significantly lowerd compared to normal rats. There was no difference of plasma concentrations of FFA and HDL cholesterol among noraml, DM and DE groups. Plasma triglyceride concentration(mg/dl) was significantly highered in DM group compared to those of DM group, the concentration of DE group was lower. Glycogen concentration(mg/gm wet weight) of the plantaris muscle in DM and DE groups was significantly reduced compared to normal group. Glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) protein of soleus was analyzed by Western blot. In DM group, the GLUT4 protein level was markdly decreased compared to normal group, but the level was recovered to the level of normal group by 4 weeks treadmill running. In conclusion, the insulin resistance induced by STZ administration was partially improved by 4 weeks physical training in rats.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of obesity on the expression of autophagy-related proteins in cardiac muscle. To this end, obesity was induced in rats through 20 weeks of high-fat diet, and the animals were then subjected to 8 weeks of treadmill exercise. Subsequently, the expression of proteins that regulate the induction of autophagy, formation of autophagosome, and fusion of autophagosome and lysosome was confirmed. Obesity was induced in the experimental animals (SD rats) through 20 weeks of high-fat diet (carbohydrate: 20%, fat: 60%, and protein: 20%), and they were subsequently subjected to 8 weeks of treadmill exercise (5 days/week, 30 min/day, 5 minutes; 8m/min, 5 minutes; 11m/min, 20 minutes; 14m/min). The experimental groups comprised the normal diet control group (ND-CON, n=10), high-fat diet comparison group (HFD-CON, n=10), and high-fat exercise group (HFD-TE, n=10). Oral glucose tolerance test was conducted before and after 8 weeks of treadmill exercise, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Through fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels, HOMA-IR, which is an index of insulin resistance, and abdominal visceral fat/body weight (AVF/BW) were calculated for comparison. Moreover, autophagy-related proteins were analyzed from cardiac tissue to investigate the effects of exercise training. Obesity was successfully induced in the HFD-CON group through long-term high-fat diet, and the HFD-CON group had higher body weight, AUC, HOMA-IR, and AVF/BW compared to the ND-CON group. The HFD-TE group, which underwent 8 weeks of treadmill exercise, showed improvements in AUC, HOMA-IR, and AVF/BW. Although the body weight tended to decrease as well, there was no statistically significant difference. mTOR and AMPK, which are involved in the induction of autophagy, both decreased in obesity but increased upon exercise. Beclin-1, BNIP3, ATG-7, p62, and LC3, which are related to the formation of autophagosomes, all increased in obesity and decreased after exercise. Cathepsin L and LAMP2, which regulate the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome, both decreased in obesity and increased upon exercise. Physical activity, including treadmill exercise, was found to induce normal autophagy and improve pathological phenomena observed in metabolic diseases. Therefore, the findings suggest the need to consider treadmill exercise as a primary means to achieve effective prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases.