• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.216-226
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• 2023

Since nylon 66, a polyamide resin, has been developed and applied to toothbrush bristles, plastic consumption has increased rapidly every year, along with the increase in the amount of plastic discarded. Among the various forms of plastic debris produced by the decomposition of plastics, microplastics with a size of less than 5 mm are widely distributed in the environment, which poses a threat not only to the environment but also to animals and humans. The pathway through which microplastics enter the human body is known as ingestion by water and food, inhalation from air, and skin contact. Microplastics introduced into the human body affect human health. Recently, food-related studies have begun to be reported among microplastics-related studies, and analyses of the presence of microplastics in processed foods, such as canned foods, dried seaweed, beverages, beer, milk, sugar, and honey, are underway. Here, we present trends in the production and consumption of plastics, the generation of microplastics, the route of human inflow and human risk, and the microplastics present in processed foods, which are limited but have recently been reported. Thus far, studies on microplastics and risk assessment in processed foods have been insufficient, but microplastics are gradually being recognized as a factor that affects the environment and food. Future studies are expected to have implications for regulations regarding microplastics present in processed foods.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2002

The purposes of this study were to quantify and compare the kind and amount of solid waste generated in two school foodservice operations located in urban and rural areas. A waste stream analysis was conducted to quantify and characterize the kind of waste in the production and service parts of each operation. The SPSS 10.0 for window was used for data analysis. Non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney) was adopted to determine if significant differences exist in amounts of waste generated in the urban school and the rural school. An average of 415 meals, including 43 adult meals, were served daily in the urban school, while an average of 177 meals, including 24 adult meals, were served daily in the rural school. Food waste generated in the production part in the urban school composed approximately 87% and 45%, while that in the rural school composed 71% and 28% by weight and volume, respectively. Waste per meal was not significantly different between the urban school and the rural school in the production part except the cardboard waste. The total waste per meal at lunch was 154g or 465m1 in the urban school and 51g or 334m1 in the rural school. Students in the urban school discarded significantly more food waste and milk than students in the rural school did. The research results suggest that school foodservice dietitians should evaluate the acceptability of menu items based on food waste per meal, and assess the feasibility of implementing a plan for recycling packaging waste and composting organic waste.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.491-506
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• 2013

The allergenic food labeling system for 12 foods has been operated in Korean school food service since 2012. This study was conducted to evaluate the food allergy status of Korean elementary school children's and their parents' perceptions of allergenic food labeling system. The parents of school aged(6-9yr olds) children in Gyeongbuk area were recruited to assist in this survey. Surveys were conducted by 404 parents. The prevalence of food allergy was 18.1%(73 students) and about one-half of the food allergic children had a family history of allergies, in particular, maternal family history. The major symptoms were related to skin and the major allergenic foods were mackerel, eggs, milk, wheat, crab and tomatoes. The parents eliminated the allergenic food from diet of 43.8% of the children with food allergy. Participants had an average knowledge score of 68% correct. The average knowledge score was higher for parents with food allergic children than for parents with intact children(p<.05). Over 61% of the respondents were not satisfied with allergenic food labeling system operated in school food service. The requirements for the allergenic food labeling system were the front-of-package labeling, conspicuous description and insert of warning sign. The parents estimated that the most important effect of the allergenic food labeling system was the improvement of psychological and physical health in children with food allergy. Because the only prevention method for food allergy is the restriction of allergenic food, the institutional device to expand the food labeling to unpackaged food as well as packaged food and to make people trust the food labeling should be prepared.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1877-1884
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• 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested as a primary candidate for cell therapy applications because they have self-renewal and differentiation capabilities. Although they can be expanded in ex vivo system, clinical application of these cells is still limited because they survive poorly and undergo senescence or apoptosis when transplanted and exposed to environmental factors such as oxidative stress. Thus, reducing oxidative stress is expected to improve the efficacy of MSC therapy. The milk protein lactoferrin is a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein that plays various roles, including reduction of oxidative stress. Thus, we explored the effect of lactoferrin on oxidative stress-induced senescence and apoptosis of human MSCs (hMSCs). Measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) revealed that lactoferrin inhibited the production of hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular ROS, suggesting lactoferrin as a good candidate as an antioxidant in hMSCs. Pretreatment of lactoferrin suppressed hydrogen peroxide-induced senescence of hMSCs. In addition, lactoferrin reduced hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis via inhibition of caspase-3 and Akt activation. These results demonstrate that lactoferrin can be a promising factor to protect hMSCs from oxidative stress-induced senescence and apoptosis, thus increasing the efficacy of MSC therapy.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.942-951
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• 2015

This study compared nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, and checking behaviors of food and nutrition labels between Korean and Chinese university students to obtain useful data for development of an education program for healthy dietary life. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire in Korea and China. Frequencies, t tests, ${\chi}^2$ tests, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis were conducted by SPSS Win. V.21.0. The levels of nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors were not high. Korean students showed higher percentage of correct answers about nutrition knowledge and levels of dietary behaviors than Chinese students. The means of degree of checking contents of food labels were 3.46 points for Korean students and 3.11 for Chinese students. Both groups of students showed the highest degree of checking milk and dairy products. The degree of understanding nutritive component labeling of Chinese students was higher than that of Korean students. Both groups of students showed higher than normal levels of confidence about nutritive component labeling and necessity of education on food and nutrition labels. The most preferred method of education on food and nutrition labels was broadcast media for both groups of students. In addition, there were significant correlations among nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, checking degree of food labels, checking degree of nutritive component labeling, and experience of nutrition education.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2017

Recently, the health-promoting effects of functional foods have been shown to prevent nutrition-related diseases, improve physical and mental well-being, satisfy hunger, and provide necessary nutrients for the human body. Koumiss is a common type of fermented mare's milk that has been shown to have beneficial therapeutic effects on cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, and diarrhea as it can nourish vessels, relieve ill mood, and improve digestion. Hence, in this study, we aimed to prepare health-promoting koumiss using different concentrations of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimmum L.), which has the potential to control heart disease, hypertension, inflammation, and lung function. The pH was decreased to around 4.42-4.43, whereas the total anthocyanin (TA) content was increased to around 0.78~0.82% after fermentation of the koumiss premix. There were no significant differences in pH and TA among the three groups, including the control group. In sensory profile analysis, the taste, flavor, color, texture, and overall acceptability decreased in proportion to the added amount of flaxseed. These findings provided the first data describing the effects of flaxseed on koumiss fermentation, establishing a basis for commercial-scale production of koumiss containing fermented flax seed and for improving the health-promoting activity of koumiss.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2011

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are known to have bacteriocidal activity and are important components of the innate immune system. Many FFAs are naturally present in human and animal skin, breast milk, and in the bloodstream. Here, the therapeutic potential of FFAs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is demonstrated in cultures and in mice. Among a series of FFAs, only oleic acid (OA) (C18:1, cis-9) can effectively eliminate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) through cell wall disruption. Lauric acid (LA, C12:0) and palmitic acid (PA, C16:0) do not have this ability. OA can inhibit growth of a number of Gram-positive bacteria, including hospital and community-associated MRSA at a dose that did not show any toxicity to human sebocytes. The bacteriocidal activities of FFAs were also demonstrated in vivo through injection of OA into mouse skin lesions previously infected with a strain of MRSA. In conclusion, our results suggest a promising therapeutic approach against MRSA through boosting the bacteriocidal activities of native FFAs, which may have been co-evolved during the interactions between microbes and their hosts.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.123-135
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• 2015

In order to examine allergic disease experience rates of students at atopy and asthma friendly elementary schools located in Chungcheongnam-do and investigate their dietary behaviors, a survey on 250 parents of first to third grade students at four rural-type atopy and asthma friendly elementary schools was conducted. The number of students who had experienced allergic symptoms (allergic group) was 102 (40.8%). their breastfeeding duration was shorter than that of the non-allergic group (p<.001) and the former's weaning foods-feeding had started earlier than the latter's (p<.01). Regarding the eating habits, the non-allergic group was found to have breakfast and dinner better than the allergic group (p<.001). The number of students eating fruits as snacks was largest in the allergic group at 73 (71.6%), and as for the non-allergic group, their rate of eating fruits, milk and dairy products, and cookies and fries was at 25.7%, 22.3%, and 20.3%, respectively. A high percentage of the allergic group ate three times or less per month the animal food groups and dairy products (p<.001). Accordingly, for improvement in dietary behaviors of students who have allergy against food, nutrition education on regular eating, balanced intake of food, adequate intake of snacks and meals for proper growth and development and precise diagnosis of allergy-triggering food are necessary. In particular, as education on food allergy, implementation of practical education such as appropriate nutrition counseling by nutrition teachers is urgent beyond the one-way educational method of school newsletters.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrient intake, eating behaviors and health-related lifestyles of Korean non-nutrition major college students after they took a nutrition course. The subjects were 40 male and 147 female students at a university in Inchon. The results are summarized as follows: Average height of male and female students was 176.2 and 162.0 cm, respectively. Average weight was 66.2 and 52.3 kg, respectively. Average intake of calories, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and Ca was lower than Korean RDA. Fe intake of female students was lower than Korean RDA. Most students have had dietary problems such as overeating, eating unbalanced meals, and skipping meals. More than 60% of the students skipped breakfast. The main reason for skipping meals was lack of time. Most students didnt exercise regularly. About 40% of the students took vitamin or mineral supplements. As for smoking and alcohol use, 11.3% of the students drank alcohol and smoked, and 74.2% of them only drank alcohol. More than 30% of the students drank alcohol once a week. Most students ate out twice a week, and chose their based on taste rather than nutritional value. The main reason for eating out was simply to enjoy a meal. More than 60% of the students ate at places in or around campus. After taking the nutrition course, intake of milk and other dairy products, vegetables, fruits and protein-rich foods increased in female students. For both male and female students, intake of fat, sugar, processed foods, soft drinks, fried foods and spices decreased. Therefore, nutrition education had effect on non-nutrition major students, suggesting that proper nutrition education encouraged healthy eating habits on the part of college students.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.170-182
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• 2014

The study surveyed the dietary behavior, food intake, and food preference for breakfast of elementary, middle, or high school students, a total of 354 boys and 305 girls. The students skipped breakfast due to no appetite, followed by no time. Elementary school students ate grains and potatoes more often than middle or high school students(p<0.05), and bap was the most frequently consumed cereals, with juk and tteok as the least. High school students ate meat, ham, sausage and boiled fish cake (eomuk) more often than the elementary or middle school students(p<0.05). Middle school students ate milk and dairy products as well as vegetables and fruits more often(p<0.05) than other foods. Preference for fish and fresh vegetables and salad was significantly high in middle school students. The score of dietary behavior was the highest in elementary school students, followed by middle and high school students(p<0.001). As the students advanced to the upper grade schools, breakfast skipping increased, with lowered dietary behavior scores. The results suggest that a variety of breakfast menus and recipes should be developed at home and schools by considering the preference of students in order to reduce breakfast skipping and to improve their satisfaction with breakfast.