• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify factors that affect subjective health in middle-aged with hypertension. Hypertension, a representative chronic disease, is a disease of increasing prevalence from middle age. To effectively manage hypertension from middle age, it is necessary to revise lifestyle based on subjective health awareness. The subjects of this study were 2,254 middle-age with hypertension who were 30-64 years of age among the 2014-17 national health and nutrition survey. Study variables consisted of general, physical, and psychological factors. For data analysis, compound statistics were made using SPSS 25.0 program and then complex statistics. The results of this study showed that the factors that significantly influenced the subjective health of the subjects were sex, age, economic level, number of households, home ownership, stress, quality of life, and their explanatory power was 20.4% (F = 12.58, p<.001). The results of this study can be used as a basis for the intervention to improve the subjective health of middle-aged with hypertension. Appropriate lifestyle modifications are needed to effectively manage hypertension based on good subjective health awareness.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.309-320
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between steamed food intake and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean females. Methods: Using Ansan/Ansung data of Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, general characteristics, nutritional intake and biochemical and anthropometric markers of a total of 4,056 females aged 40 to 69 years were analyzed. MetS was defined following National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III with some minor modifications. Logistic regression models were established to present the association between steamed food intake and the risk of MetS. Levels of food and nutrient intake by the frequency of steamed food intake and MetS phenotype were analyzed using general linear models. Results: A total of 38.4% of females had MetS. Among them, 24.9% of females with MetS had steamed food more than 1-3 times per week, which reduced the risk for MetS by about 25% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.650-0.865). However, such association was not evident when various lifestyle factors were considered in statistical models. In rural residents, the benefit of having more steamed food was observed (adjusted odds ratio: 0.747; 95% CI, 0.583-0.958). The frequency of steamed food intake was associated with various food and nutritional intakes. However, trends in those did not differ by MetS phenotype. Conclusion: Having steamed food more than 1-3 times per week may reduce the risk of MetS compared to those who had less steamed food in Korean females. This protective effect of steamed food intake may differ by lifestyle and environmental factors. Although a clear difference in food and nutritional intake was not observed in this study, steaming could be an effective cooking method for a healthy diet for disease prevention and management.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.451-461
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a obesity management program on BMI, body composition, knowledge, perception and attitudes, mood and exercise habits in obese elementary school children with the goal of developing nursing interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle. Method: The study used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-post test. The content of the 8-week obesity management program included obesity education, diet control education, behavioral modification education, counseling, hand-reflexo massage, and exercise. Participants were 36 obese children who were students in elementary schools in K city. Data collection was done from October $4^{th}$ to November $28^{th}$, 2005. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: After the students received the obesity management program, their BMI scores were significantly lowered, and scores for mood and excercise habits were significantly improved. Conclusion: The results show this obesity management program is effective in changing the BMI, mood, and behavioral modifications in obese students. The results suggest that this program be utilized to manage obesity in obese children, and that this study be replicated to compare an experimental group with a control group in order to verify the effects of the obesity management program.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with various metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. This suggests that NAFLD may represent the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated unfavorable effects NAFLD on components of metabolic syndrome in post-menopause women. Eight hundred sixty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited for this study. The diagnosis of fatty liver was based on the results of abdominal ultrasonography. Serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The prevalence of component of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low-HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in subjects with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The moderate to severe grade of NAFLD presented higher levels of serum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, and triglycerides than the mild NAFLD and the normal group. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome risk was increased in post-menopause women with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD. The severity of NAFLD affected metabolic syndrome risk factors. The optimal strategy for the treatment of NAFLD is likely to include lifestyle modifications and therapy to improve insulin resistance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2018

In an age when a small quantity of sperm can lead to pregnancy through in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, selecting healthy sperm is important. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is known to be higher in infertile men. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the alkaline comet test are SDF tests that directly measure DNA damage and have shown closer correlations with assisted reproduction results than indirect tools such as the sperm chromatin structure assay or the sperm chromatic dispersion test. It is difficult; however, to endorse a single test as the best test overall; instead, it is best to select a testing method based on each patient's clinical condition and goals. In a couple struggling with infertility, if the male partner has a high level of SDF, he should aim to decrease SDF through lifestyle modifications, antioxidant treatment, and ensuring an appropriate duration of abstinence, and physicians need to treat the underlying diseases of such patients. If sperm DNA damage continues despite the patient's and physician's efforts, other methods, such as micromanipulation-based sperm selection or testicular sperm extraction, should be used to select healthy sperm with nuclear DNA integrity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.194-197
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• 2021

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in reproductive-age women. In 2018, an international evidence-based guideline announced recommendations spanning a wide range of issues on the assessment and management of PCOS. From the 166 recommendations, the present study reviews those that are of particular clinical relevance for daily practice and introduces other relevant studies that have been published since the global guideline. The 2018 guideline increased the antral follicle count cutoff for the diagnosis of PCOS from 12 to 20 when using a high-frequency probe. Hirsutism was defined as having a score of ≥4-6 based on a lower percentile of 85%-90% or cluster analysis, which was lower than the traditionally used 95th percentile-based cutoff. The diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents is challenging, and irregular menstruation was defined carefully according to years from menarche. The use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of PCOS was restricted to those 8 years after menarche. As medication for non-fertility indications, combined oral contraceptives are the first-line drug. Metformin, in addition to lifestyle modifications, should be considered for adult patients with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m² for the management of weight and metabolic outcomes. An aromatase inhibitor is the recommended first-line medication for ovulation induction, a subsequent individual patient data meta-analysis also reported the same conclusion. Whether the new global guideline will be fully adopted by many specialists and change clinical practice is open to question. Further studies are needed to better understand and manage PCOS patients well.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2022

Whereas systolic blood pressure (SBP) continuously rises with age, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) gradually decreases after the age of 55 years. Therefore, hypertension in the elderly shows the pattern of isolated systolic hypertension. There is evidence on the benefits of controlling blood pressure (BP) in elderly patients with hypertension. The BP lowering effect has also been demonstrated in patients over 80 years of age with hypertension. The BP threshold for the initiation of antihypertensive drug treatment for older adults with hypertension is gradually decreasing. The antihypertensive treatment is recommended if, despite therapeutic lifestyle modifications, SBP ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg in those aged 65-79 years old, and SBP ≥140-160 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg in those aged ≥80 years old. Although there is no consensus on the target BP for older adults with hypertension, a target SBP of <130-140 mmHg and DBP of <80-90 mmHg are recommended. In older adults over 80 years of age with hypertension, the target SBP is <140-150 mmHg. When the dose of antihypertensive drugs is increased to reach the target SBP, DBP may decrease to less than 70 mmHg, but it should not be <60 mmHg. Thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers can be selected as the first-line drug for older adults with hypertension. Beta-blockers may be selected in case of compelling indications.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.155-173
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• 2018

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an unwanted adverse event in any operation. It leads to functional limitations and psychological trauma for patients, and leaves the operative team with feelings of failure and humiliation. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive strategies for CPSP are considered in high-risk operations. Various techniques have been implemented to reduce the risk with variable success. Identifying the risk factors for each patient and applying a timely preventive strategy may help patients avoid the distress of chronic pain. The preventive strategies include modification of the surgical technique, good pain control throughout the perioperative period, and preoperative psychological intervention focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive risk factors. Appropriate management of CPSP patients is also necessary to reduce their suffering. CPSP usually has a neuropathic pain component; therefore, the current recommendations are based on data on chronic neuropathic pain. Hence, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, topical lidocaine and topical capsaicin are the main pharmacological treatments. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids can be used according to symptom severity, but strong opioids should be used with great caution and are not recommended. Other drugs that may be helpful are ketamine, clonidine, and intravenous lidocaine infusion. For patients with failed pharmacological treatment, consideration should be given to pain interventions; examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, botulinum toxin injections, pulsed radiofrequency, nerve blocks, nerve ablation, neuromodulation and surgical management. Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications are also useful for relieving the pain and distress experienced by CPSP patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Over the past few decades, Malaysia has been experiencing an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity that threatens the health of Malaysians. Poor dietary intake is one of the major contributors to the development of obesity and many non-communicable diseases. The dietary intakes of adults in Malaysia were assessed to determine the association between the dietary intake variables and the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) measurements. This study examined whether the dietary intake achieved the recommended nutritional guidelines and compared the intakes between both sexes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The height, weight, and WC of four-hundred-and-ninety adults (n = 490) in Malaysia were measured using standard procedures. The three-day 24-hour dietary recalls were conducted on 422 out of the 490 adults and their dietary intakes were evaluated in detail. The selected dietary intake variables were used to determine the associations with the obesity indicators. RESULTS: Among the participants, 52.8% were overweight or obese. After data analysis, the mean energy intake was 1,550 kcal/day, in which male participants had a significantly higher energy and macronutrients intake than females. Protein consumption and its percentage of energy contribution exceeded the recommended range. The consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk and milk products were lower than the recommended number of servings for a healthy diet. The male participants consumed significantly more servings of carbohydrate-based foods, meat, and fats, oils, and sweets than females. Among the selected dietary intake variables, only the carbohydrate intake was negatively associated with the BMI (Estimate b = -0.008) and WC measurements (Estimate b = -0.019) after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the dietary intakes of a sample of Malaysian adults and its association with the obesity indicators. The results highlight the need for improvements and modifications of the dietary intake of Malaysians to reduce the overweight and obesity rates.