• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and related trichothecene mycotoxins are extensively distributed in the cereal-based food and feed stuffs worldwide. Recent climate changes and global grain trade increased chance of exposure to more DON and related toxic metabolites in poorly managed production systems. Monitoring the biological and environmental exposures to the toxins are crucial in protecting human and animals from toxicities of the hazardous contaminants in food or feeds. Exposure biomarkers including urine DON itself are prone to shift to less harmful metabolites by intestinal microbiota and liver metabolic enzymes. De-epoxyfication of DON by gut microbes such as Eubacterium strain BBSH 797 and Eubacterium sp. DSM 11798 leads to more fecal secretion of DOM-1. By contrast, most of plant-derived DON-glucoside is also easily catabolized to free DON by gut microbes, which produces more burden to body. Phase 2 hepatic metabolism also contributes to the glucuronidation of DON, which can be useful urine biomarkers. However, chemical modification could be very typical depending on the anthropologic or genetic background, luminal bacteria, and hepatic metabolic enzyme susceptibility to the toxins in the diet. After toxin exposure, effect biomarkers are also important in estimating the linkage and mechanisms of foodborne diseases in human and animal population. Most prominent adverse effects are demonstrated in the DON-induced immunological and behavioral disorders. For instance, acutely elevated interleukin-8 from insulted gut exposed to dietaty DON is a dominant clinical biomarker in human and animals. Moreover, subchronic exposure to the toxins is associated with high levels of serum IgA, a biological mediator of IgA nephritis. In particular, anorexia monitoring using mouse models are recently developed to monitor the biological activities of DON-induced feed refusal. It is also mechanistically linked to alteration of serotoin and peptide YY, which are promising biomarkers of neurological disorders by the toxins. As animal-alternative biomonitoring, huamn enterocyte-based assay has been developed and more realistic gut mimetic models would be useful in monitoring the effect biomarkers in resposne to toxic contaminants in the future investigations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.469-482
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• 2023

Purpose: Obesity has emerged as a critical global public health concern as it is associated with and increases susceptibility to various diseases. This condition is characterized by the excessive enlargement of adipose tissue, primarily stemming from an inequity between energy intake and expenditure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of sweet pumpkin powder in mitigating obesity and metabolic disorders in leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob) mice and to compare the effects of raw sweet pumpkin powder (HNSP01) and heat-treated sweet pumpkin powder (HNSP02). Methods: Leptin-deficient obese mice were fed a diet containing 10% HNSP01 and another containing 10% HNSP02 for 6 weeks. Results: The supplementation of ob/ob mice with HNSP01 and HNSP02 resulted in decreased body weight gain, reduced adipose tissue weight, and a smaller size of lipid droplets in the adipose tissue and liver. Furthermore, the ob/ob-HNSP01 and ob/ob-HNSP02 supplemented groups exhibited lower levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and insulin, as well as a reduced atherogenic index in comparison with the control group. Molecular analysis also demonstrated that the intake of HNSP01 and HNSP02 resulted in a diminished activation of factors associated with fatty acid synthesis, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase, while concurrently enhancing factors associated with lipolysis, including adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase, in the adipose tissue. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings collectively demonstrate the potential of sweet pumpkin powder as a functional food ingredient with therapeutic properties against obesity and its associated metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 1975

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of the ETR test as compared to other thyroid function tests in normal persons, patients with thyroid disorders and patients with alterations of thyroxine-binding proteins. The ETR values were obtained from 35 cases as normal control, 63 hyperthyroid patients, 56 euthyroid patients, 23 hypothyroid patients, 10 pregnant women, 5 women taking oral contraceptive medication, 8 liver cirrhosis patients and 4 nephrotic syndrome patients. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The mean value of ETR obtained from the normal controls was $0.99{\pm}0.06$. 2. The mean ETR values of various thyroid states were $1.25{\pm}0.16$ in hyperthyroidism, $0.99{\pm}0.08$ in euthyroidism and $0.82{\pm}0.05$ in hypothyroidism and significant difference was found between these groups. 3. Seven out of 63 hyperthyroid patients(11.1%) and 2 out of 23 hypothyroid patients(8.7%) had ETR values within normal range and among the 56 euthyroid patients 6(10.7%) had ETR values outside normal range, so the diagnostic compatibility of ETR was 89.4% in thyroid diseases. 4. Even though the ETR value was well correlated with $^{131}I$-thyroid uptake rate, serum $T_3$ resin uptake rate and serum $T_4$, a high positive correlation was found (r=0.79) between ETR and $T_7$. 5. The mean ETR values from patients with alteration in TBG binding capacity were $0.99{\pm}0.05$ in pregnant women, $0.98{\pm}0.04$ in women with oral contraceptive medication, $1.04{\pm}0.09$ in liver cirrhosis patients and $0.94{\pm}0.02$ in nephrotic syndrome patients and most of them (85.2%) had ETR values within normal range. Our results, therefore, suggests that the ETR estimation does offer the simplest and most reliable single procedure for the screening and diagnosis of various thyroid diseases as a indirect indicator of serum-free thyroxine concentration without essential influence of changes in the thyroxine-binding proteins in serum.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-51
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• 2020

Objectives: We aimed to compare the quality of sleep, tongue diagnosis, oral microbiology differences in insomnia of Liver qi stagnation (LQS) and Non-Liver qi stagnation (NLQS). Methods: 56 patients were classified as LQS or NLSQ type insomnia through the insomnia differentiation questionnaire. The depression scores between the groups were compared through beck depression inventory (BDI), and the sleep quality was compared through Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). We analyzed the sleep efficiency, total sleep time, total awake frequency, total and average awake time through actigraph. For the tongue diagnosis, the distribution of tongue coating in six areas were measured through Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI). Linear discriminant analysis was performed to observe the differences in composition of microbial strains between the groups. Results: The scores of BDI, ISI and PSQI were significantly higher in LQS group. The total sleep time in LQS group was significantly less than that of NLQS group. Among the areas of tongue, according to the WTCI, the amount of tongue coating in zones A and C was significantly small. In oral microbial analysis, there was no significant difference between the groups at the phylum level. At the genus level, Prevotella, Veillonella, and Streptococcus were predominant in LQS group, whereas Prevotella, Neisseria, and Streptococcus in NLQS group. Conclusions: It was meaningful that insomnia was more likely in LQS group than in NLQS group, and the composition of oral microorganisms was significantly different, which could lead to the diseases caused by stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.421-432
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• 2005

In order to understand the renal reabsorption mechanism of neutral amino acids via amino acid transporters, we have isolated human L-type amino acid transporter 2 (hLAT2) and human T-type amino acid transporter 1 (hTAT1) in human, then, we have examined and compared the gene structures, the functional characterizations and the localization in human kidney. Northern blot analysis showed that hLAT2 mRNA was expressed at high levels in the heart, brain, placenta, kidney, spleen, prostate, testis, ovary, lymph node and the fetal liver. The hTAT1 mRNA was detected at high levels in the heart, placenta, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, spleen, thymus and prostate. Immunohistochemical analysis on the human kidney revealed that the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins coexist in the basolateral membrane of the renal proximal tubules. The hLAT2 transports all neutral amino acids and hTAT1 transports aromatic amino acids. The basolateral location of the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins in the renal proximal tubule as well as the amino acid transport activity of hLAT2 and hTAT1 suggests that these transporters contribute to the renal reabsorption of neutral and aromatic amino acids in the basolateral domain of epithelial proximal tubule cells, respectively. Therefore, LAT2 and TAT1 play essential roles in the reabsorption of neutral amino acids from the epithelial cells to the blood stream in the kidney. Because LAT2 and TAT1 are essential to the efficient absorption of neutral amino acids from the kidney, their defects might be involved in the pathogenesis of disorders caused by a disruption in amino acid absorption such as blue diaper syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2017

Objectives: The object of this study is to observe the possible ameliorating effects of Nokyongdaebo-tang (NYDBT) on the experimental subacute hemorrhagic anemia (SHA) in rats. Methods: In the present study, SHA in rats was induced by exsanguinations from orbital plexus, and ameliorating effects of NYDBT was observed based on the changes of body and hematopoietic organ (spleen, liver and femur) weights, red blood cell (RBC) related hematological values, smear cytology, histopathological changes and immunohistochemistrical analysis of hematopoietic stem cells in the femur bone marrow, liver and spleen. In addition, the gastrointestinal motility and the surface mucosa thicknesses of remnant fecal pellets in the colon lumen, mucosa thicknesses and the mucous producing cell numbers in the colonic mucosa were analyzed to observe the digestive disorders, especially on the constipation, the major discomfort problems in iron supplement. Results: SHA related abnormal anemic signs were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited by oral administration of NYDBT 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg in a condition of this experiment. In addition, no meaningful changes on the gastrointestinal motilities and mucous component on the colon and remnant feces were noticed in all three different dosages of NYDBT treated rats as compared with intact vehicle and SHA control rats in this study. Conclusions: It, therefore, is expected that NYDBT will be promising as a novel alternative hematopoietic and therapeutic agent for anemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2002

Insomnia describes not only a state of a lack of sleep but also a causative factor for both psychological and physical disorders. Most people tend to underestimate the effects of insomnia on psychological problems, stroke, Sogal or other life-threatening conditions. insomnia may occur when 1) the flow of Jung(精), Ki(氣), Shin(神) and Hyul(血) is not smooth; 2) the five Jang organs and six Bu organs are in disharmony; 3) Shin(身) and Hyung(形) are inconsistently developed; 4) Young and Wi(衛) do not work in concert; 5) and other factors such as age or exposure to Cold are involved. I observed my patients suffering from insomnia according to Hyungsang medicine, which is based on 'Dongyuibogam'(東醫寶鑑). Insomnia due to the problems with Jung, Ki. Shin and Hyul was found in the Shin type(神科) and the Ki type(氣科). When it comes to the organs, sleep disorder significantly correlates to weakened Spleen, Liver and Kidneys. In terms of the inconsistent development of Shin and Hyung, patients who were shortsighted or experienced surgery showed insomnia. Patients exposed to Cold showed false type agitation. With respect to age, while children showed a weakened Gallbladder, the aged had deficient Blood. Sleep disorder caused by disharmony of Young and Wi occurs at dusk or dawn.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2013

Objectives: Medically unexplained fatigue includes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF). These disorders quite impair quality of life while no effective therapies exist. Therefore, patients with CFS or ICF frequently choose treatments based on traditional Korean medicine. The study aimed to analyze characteristic of patients visiting an Oriental clinic with CFS or ICF. Methods: Patients who met criteria for CFS or ICF were enrolled in this study, from March 2011 to Jun 2013. Clinical information focused on symptom differentiation and Sasang constitution was analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare the frequency among sub-groups. Results: In total, 77 patients (49 male and 28 female) were diagnosed with CFS (17 male and 13 female) or ICF (32 male and 15 female). The symptom differentiation was 37.7%, 26.0%, 13.0%, and 23.3% for "Qi deficiency of both spleen and lung (脾肺氣虛)", "Yin deficiency of both liver and kidney (肝腎陰虛)", "Blood deficiency of both heart and spleen (心脾血虛)" and "Yang deficiency of both spleen and kidney (脾腎陽虛)", while Sasang constitutional distribution was 59.7%, 22.1% and 18.2% Soeumin, Taeumin and Soyangin, respectively. The fatigue severity was notably different between CFS ($63.7{\pm}12.1$) or ICF ($52.2{\pm}15.3$) according to the Chalder fatigue scale (10-point scale for eleven questions). There was statistical significance regarding symptom differentiation and Sasang constitution (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In the process of traditional Korean medicine-based development of therapeutics for patients with chronic fatigue or related conditions, this report can serve as reference data.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2013

The four principles of treatment of odontogenic infection are as follows : (1) removal of the cause, (2) establishment of drainage, (3) institution of antibiotic therapy, and (4) provision of supportive care, including proper rest and nutrition. A separate incision is required to establish drainage, especially in the case of extensive fascial space infections. There are four principle causes for active bleeding in the immediate incision & drainage phase; (1) vascular wall alteration (infection, scurvy, chemicals), (2) disorder of platelet function, (3) thrombocytopenic purpuras, (4) disorders of coagulation (liver disease, anticoagulation drug). If the hemorrhage from incision & drainage site is aggressive, the site must be packed with proper wet gauze and wound closure & drainage dressing are applied. The specific causes of bleeding may be associated with hypoxia, changes in the pH of blood & chemical changes affecting vascular contractility and blood clotting. This is a case report of bleeding control by the circumferential suture & drainage on active bleeding incision & drainage site of temporal space abscess due to advanced odontogenic infection in a multiple medically compromised disabled patient.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5433-5438
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• 2012

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive malignancy. Despite of the improvements in its treatment, HCC prognosis remains poor due to its recurrence after resection. This study provides complete genetic profile for Egyptian HCC. Genome-wide analyses were performed to identify the predictive signatures. Patients and Methods: Liver tissue was collected from 31 patients with diagnosis of HCC and gene expression levels in the tumours and their adjacent non-neoplastic tissues samples were studied by analyzing changes by microarray then correlate these with the clinico-pathological parameters. Genes were validated in an independent set by qPCR. The genomic profile was associated with genetic disorders and cancer focused on gene expression, cell cycle and cell death. Molecular profile analysis revealed cell cycle progression and arrest at G2/M, but progression to mitosis; unregulated DNA damage check-points, and apoptosis. Result: Nine hundred fifty eight transcripts out of the 25,000 studied cDNAs were differentially expressed; 503 were up-regulated and 455 were down-regulated. A total of 19 pathways were up-regulated through 27 genes and 13 pathways were down-regulated through 19 genes. Thirty-seven genes showed significant differences in their expression between HCC cases with high and low Alpha Feto Protein ($AFP{\geq}600$ IU/ml). The validation for the microarray was done by real time PCR assay in which PPP3CA, ATG-5, BACE genes showed down-regulation and ABCG2, RXRA, ELOVL2, CXR3 genes showed up-regulation. cDNA microarrays showed that among the major upregulated genes in HCC are sets. Conclusion: The identified genes could provide a panel of new diagnostic and prognostic aids for HCC.