• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.528-532
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to analyse copper intake and effect ofZn(30mg ZnSO4/d) supplementation on plasma copper level of Korean adults. Daily Cu intakes were studied in ninety subjects aging 20-20 years. Among them twenty four subjects participated in 6 weeks Zn supplementation study. The men consumed 1.47($\pm$0.64)mg of Cu and the women consumed 0.98($\pm$0.43)mg of Cu daily. the most abundant sources of Cu was meat, fish, egg and soybean group, the second was cereal and grain group and the third was vegetable group. These three groups supplied about 90% of copper in the subjects. The plasma copper level of the subjects was not changed much until two weeks of Zn supplementation. However, after two weeks of Zn supplementation plasma copper level was reduced continuously during the experiment. There was no significant difference in plasma Cu level between control and supplement group of the men, while the supplemented women showed significantly lower plasma Cu level than control group at week 4(p<0.01) and week 6(p<0.05). Although plasma Cu level of the subjects was slightly changed, its concentration in plasma was still in normal range in all groups and no one showed clinical Cu deficiency. Therefore the Zn supplementation of RDA level doesn't seem to cause any adverse effect on Cu status.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.266-270
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of this study was to compare the plasma amitriptyline and nortriptyline level between before and after fluoxetine addition with patients who were currently taking amitriptyline. Method : From the inpatient and outpatient unit of Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, Chunan, fourteen subjects who were taking amitriptyline 25mg more than 1 week at least were given fluoxetine 20mg. Before and 2 weeks after fluoxetine addition, the plasma level of amitriptyline and nortriptyline are analyzed simultaneously by High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC). At the same times, HAM-D(Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) score and the UKU(Uldvalg for Klinske Unders${\Phi}$ gelser) side effect scale were checked. Results : After fluoxetine addition to the patients who were taking amitriptyline, the plasma level of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and sum of amitriptyline and nortriptyline had risen. The mean plasma amitriptyline level increased from $168.9{\pm}89.4ng/ml$ to $183.0{\pm}102.0ng/ml$ after fluoxetine addition(p=0.011), but the change was not statistically significant. The mean plasma nortriptyline level increased significantly from $114.3{\pm}70.2ng/ml$ to $168.0{\pm}86.2ng/ml$ after fluoxetine addition(p=0.011). In addition, the mean plasma level of total amitriptyline and nortriptyline increased significantly from $283.1{\pm}125.3ng/ml$ to $350.9{\pm}78.4ng/ml$ after fluoxetine addition(p=0.016). After fluoxetine addition, no significant change was noted in the UKU side effect scale score. Conclusion : As consequence of comparison of plasma amitriptyline and nortriptyline level before and after fluoxetine addition, mean amitriptyline, nortriptyline and total plasma level was increased after fluoxetine addition. This suggests that coadministration of amitriptyline and fluoxetine may induce improvement of depressive symptom in depressive patients by way of increased plasma level of amitriptyline.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2004

Body antioxidant status is an important factor for the prevention of many chronic diseases in the elderly. This study was done to investigate antioxidant status and its relationship to immune response by measuring plasma cytokine (IL-2 and IL-6) levels in elderly women. Subjects were 76 elderly women aged over 60 years, visiting Jangwhi Social Welfare Center of Seongbook-Gu in Seoul. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to age (< 65, 65 - 74, > 75). Dietary intakes were assessed by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SFFQ). Plasma vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and plasma levels of vitamin E, A and ${\beta}$-carotene were measured by HPLC. Plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were determined with a solid phase sandwich enzyme linked-immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) using commercial kits. The average intakes of antioxidant vitamins were 96.3mg (137.5% of RDA) for vitamin C and 523.3 ${\mu}$gRE (74.8% of RDA) for vitamin A in elderly women. All of the average plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were within normal range. However the percentage of the elderly women with deficiency plus marginal values were 7.9% in vitamin C, 9.2% in vitamin A and 7.9% in vitamin E. Plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were 27.1${\pm}$7.1pg/ml and 5.9${\pm}$5.3pg/ml in elderly women. Correlation data showed that plasma IL-2 level was negatively correlated with plasma vitamin C level. In addition, IL-6 level was also negatively correlated with plasma vitamin C, A and E levels, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance(TB-ARS) level and plasma IL-2 or IL-6 levels. In addition, erythrocyte TBARS level showed a significant positive correlation with plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) level and a significant negative correlation with plasma vitamin C level. Overall results might imply that the decreased levels of antioxidant vitamins result in an increase in oxidative stress and thereby increase cytokine production such as IL-2 and IL-6. However further research is required to elucidate these relationships.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to discern the critical point in skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation by changing plasma free fatty acids (FFA) level in rat. In the study, 3 key steps in lipid oxidation were examined after changing plasma FFA level by acipimox. The rates of both palmitate and palmitoylcarnitine oxidation were decreased by decrease of plasma FFA level, however, carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) 1 activity was not changed, suggesting CPT1 activity may not be involved in the fatty acid oxidation at the early phase of plasma FFA change. In the fasted rats, ${\beta}-hydroxy$ acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (${\beta}$-HAD) activity was depressed to a similar extent as palmitate oxidation by a decrease of plasma FFA level. This suggested that ${\beta}-oxidation$ might be an important process to regulate fatty acid oxidation at the early period of plasma FFA change. Citrate synthase activity was not altered by the change of plasma FFA level. In conclusion, the critical step in fatty acids oxidation of skeletal muscles by the change of plasma FFA level by acipimox in fasting rats might be the ${\beta}-oxidation$ step rather than CPT1 and TCA cycle pathways.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.195-208
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• 2004

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aconiti Tuber on the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in mice stimulated by intracerebroventricular(I.C.V.) Injection of Lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Method: 6 mice were assigned to each of the normal group, the control group, and the experimental group. In the normal group only saline was administered intragastrically, and in the control group LPS was injected intracerebro-ventricularly 1 hr after intragastric administration of saline. In the experimental groups (Aconiti Tuber 0.5g/kg, Aconiti Tuber 1.0g/kg, Aconiti Tuber 3.0g/kg) each sample was administered intragastrically to mice 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection. To measure the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level of mice, their blood samples were collected from retro-orbital plexus, immediately centrifuged at $4^{\circ}C$, and plasma was removed and stored frozen at $-83^{\circ}C$ for later determination of plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Result : 1. LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma IL-6 level significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared with normal group(P<0.01). The plasma IL-6 concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS I.C.V. Injection(P<0.001). LPS I.C.V. Injection increased plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level significantly in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05). The plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration reached a significant maximal level about 1 hr after LPS I.C.V. Injection(P<0.001). 2. Sample A group to which Aconiti Tuber(0.5g/kg) was administered intragastrically 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection showed insignificant lower plasma IL-6 level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.0635), and sample B group (Aconiti Tuber 1.0g/kg) showed significant lower plasma IL-6 level in 1 hr than control group(P〈0.05), and sample C group (Aconiti Tuber 3.0g/kg) showed significant lower IL-6 plasma level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.01). 3. sample A group to which Aconiti Tuber(0.5g/kg) was administered intragastrically 1 hr prior to the stimulation by LPS I.C.V. Injection showed insignificant lower plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in 1 hr than control group(P>0.05), and Both sample B(1.0g/kg) and sample C(3.0g/kg) groups showed significant lower $TNF-{\alpha}$ plasma level in 1 hr than control group(P<0.01). These data revealed that Aconiti Tuber might have the anti inflammatory effect by reducing the plasma IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ level in a dose dependent manner in mice LPS I.C.V. Injection.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.819-827
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of 50% buckwheat diet on the body weight, organ weight, urine albumin, urine glucose, plasma glucose and plasma lipid in normal rats and diabetic rats treated with streptozotocin(STZ). The food intake, body weight, the level of urine glucose in diabetic buckwheat groups were not significantly different with diabetic control group. The level of urine albumin was lower in raw and steam buckwheat group than in the diabetic control group. Compared to the normal control group, liver and kidney weights were heavier in the diabetic groups. Pancreas weight was heavier diabetic buckwheat groups than in normal and diabetic control groups. Fasting plasma glucose level of diabetic buckwheat groups significantly decreased by 18-37% compared with the diabetic control group. Plasma triglyceride level of diabetic buckwheat groups significantly decreased by 34-50% compared with the diabetic control group. Plasma total cholesterol level of diabetic buckwheat groups decreased by 15-27% compared with the diabetic control group. The level of HDL-cholesterol was not affected by buckwheat diet. These results indicate that buckwheat is an effective therapeutic regimen for the control of metabolic derangements in diabetics.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.773-785
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• 2006

Vitamin E in the body system plays an important role in preventing chronic diseases by decreasing the oxidative stress by free-radicals. However, there are not enough researches on analyzing the primary factors affecting vitamin E levels in the blood in Korean adults. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine blood tocopherol levels and the primary factors affecting the status. A complete lifestyle survey was performed on 314 Korean adult men and surveyed their smoking, drinking and exercising habits. The average plasma level of ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\gamma}-tocopherol$ showed similar mutual relations with plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), or low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p<0.001). Plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level of the subjects did not show any difference as smoking, drinking and exercising habits changed. However, ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ per TG showed much lower figure in smokers than non smokers (p < 0.05). Amongst diet factors, plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level showed negative correlations with Vitamin E intake, while ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ level showed positive correlations with Vitamin E intake. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and plasma tocopherol showed negative correlations, and catalase activity and plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ showed positive correlationship. The level of cell DNA damage of Iymphocyte and plasma ${\alpha}-\;or\;{\gamma}-tocopherol$ showed negative correlations. As a result of this research, the factors that affect Korean adult men's plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level are plasma TG, LDL-C and cell DNA damage in Iymphocyte, while the factors that affect ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ level are plasma TG, LDL-C and vitamin E intake based on multiple regression analysis. These findings implies that the level of different types of tocopherol depends on slightly different factors. A further research is needed on the factors involved in the differentiation of the types of tocopherol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 1972

An analysis of the free amino acid contained in the plasma and erythrocytes of the six groups of Wistar Strain male adult rats(body weight 200-300g) having fasted for sixteen hours was made by means of the HITACHI Amino Acid Autoanalyzer and the result of which was corrected with RC-24 B TOMY Micro Hematocrit Centrifuge. There was a depression of the plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the noprotein diet with ad libitum feeding. But on the 20% casein diet there was an elevation in the levels of free amino acid and consequently alanine, glysine, lysine, serine and arginine level in the erythrocytes and threonine glutamic acid and taurine level in the plasma increased on the high protein diet. There was more plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the 5% casein-30% fat diet than on the 5% casein-no fat diet with pair-feeding. In comparison, on the low calorie diet more free amino acids were found in plasma than in erythrocytes, but on the higher calorie diet more free amino acids were found in the erythrocytes than in the plasma. On the 20% casein-30% fat diet with pair-feeding the erythrocytes free amino acids level increased but in plasma free amino acids level decreased. Such as an opposite result was given in plasma and erythrocytes free amino acids level. In the pair-fed four groups, erythrocytes per plasma generally increased in the rate of less than 10.0 as the calorie increased. The essential amino acid per non essential amino acid generally increased in the ratio as protein level and calorie increased, and that ratio range was from 0.2 to 0.7. And essential amino acid per non essential amino acid of plasma was higher than that of erythrocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-84
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• 1971

An analysis of the free amino acid contained in the plasma and erythrocytes of the six groups of Wistar Strain male adult rats (body weight 200-300g) having fasted for sixteen hours was made by means of the HITACHI Amino Acid Autoanalyzer and the result of which was corrected with RC-24B TOMY Micro Hematocrit Centrifuge. There was a depression of the plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the no-protein diet with ad libitum feeding. But on the 20% casein diet there was an elevation in the levels of free amino acid and consequently alanine, glysine, lysine, serine and arginine level in the erythrocytes and threonine, glutamic acid and taurine level in the plasma increased on the high protein diet. There was more plasma and erythrocytes free amino acid level on the 5% casein- 30% fat diet than on the 5% casein-no fat diet with pair-feeding. In comparison, on the low calorie diet more free amino acids were found in plasma than in erythrocytes, but on the higher calorie diet more free amino acids were found in the erythrocytes than in the plasma. On the 20% casein-30% fat diet with pair-feeding the erythrocytes free amino acids level increased but in plasma free amino acids level decreased. Such as an opposite result was given in plasma and erythrocytes free amino acids level. In the pair-fed four groups, erythrocytes per plasma generally increased in the rate of less than 10.0 as the calorie increased. The essential amino acid per non essential amino acid generally increased in the ratio as protein level and calorie increased, and that ratio range was from 0.2 to 0.7. And essential amino acid per non essential amino acid of plasma was higher than that of erythrocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2 s.27
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• pp.39-44
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• 1980

Marc et al. reported that diazepam increased plasma corticosterone level and Dasgupta et al. suggested that chlordiazepoxide(CDP) supressed the adrenal response to ACTH. In this paper, the influence of CDP on the changes of blood sugar and plasma corticosterone level induced by ACTH and picrotoxin were investigated in male mice. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1) The blood sugar and plasma corticosterone level were increased by CDP, ACTH, and picrotoxin, respectively. 2) The hyperglycemia induced by ACTH and picrotoxin were not affected by the CDP pretreatment. 3) The increase of plasma corticosterone level induced by ACTH was inhibited by the CDP pretreatment. 4) The increase of plasma corticosterone level appeared 30 minutes after picrotoxin injection was slightly enhanced, but the level of 120 minutes after picrotoxin injection was significantly inhibited by the CDP pretreatment.