• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.588-593
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• 2005

Purpose : Obesity is associated with disturbances of ventilatory functions in adults. But few studies have evaluated the pulmonary complications of obesity in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of obesity on pulmonary function and body composition in obese children. Methods : Forty seven obese children whose ages ranged from nine to twelve years were evaluated for their body composition(intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, protein mass, mineral mass, soft lean mass, fat mass, percent body fat, fat distribution) by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Hemoglobin, serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Pulmonary function test was performed by spirometer. Results : Intracellular fluid, protein mass, fat mass, percent body fat and fat distribution were significantly higher in severely obese children with an obesity index of more than 150 percent compared with those with an index of less than 150 percent. Peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) was significantly lower in severely obese children with obesity index of more than 150 percent compared with those with less than 150 percent($241.7{\pm}14.6L/sec$ vs $276.8{\pm}64.3L/sec$). PEFR, forced expiratory flow 25 percent($FEF_{25}$), mid expiratory flow rate(MEFR), forced expiratory flow 50 percent($FEF_{50}$), forced expiratory volume in 1st second($FEV_1$) and forced vital capacity(FVC) were decreased in 37.0 percent, 14.8 percent, 14.8 percent, 11.1 percent, 3.7 percent and 3.7 percent of obese children, respectively. Conclusion : PEFR was significantly decreased in obese children. Pulmonary function test must be performed in severely obese children and more extended study is needed in other age groups.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determine the distribution of cat follicles among varying ages and produce oocytes from preantral follicles cultured in vitro. We used ovaries from 41 cats ranging in age from 0.3 to 5 years. Ovaries were obtained from cats undergoing routine ovariectomy at local veterinary clinics. As a prelude to in vitro culture of preantral follicles, the length and the width and the weight of ovaries among cats of varying ages were measured. Ovaries were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, cut into $3{\mu}m$-sections, mounted on slides and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Follicles were evaluated at 200X and 400X magnification. Distribution of follicles among cats of varying ages were evaluated according to follicle classification: primordial, primary, transitional, preantral and antral follicles. Preantral follicles were isolated by the simple mechanical procedure. Each follicle was cultured in a well containing $100{\mu}l$ of medium 199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or polyvinylalcohol (PVA) for 16 days. Follicle diameters were measured under inverted microscope every 4 days. The length, the width and the weight of ovaries were increased gradually according to ages but there was not significant difference among cats of varying ages. Majority of follicles were primordial follicles (84%) regardless of cat ages (p<0.05). Follicle diameter increased until 4 days of culture. However, period longer than 4 days of culture in vitro had a deleterious effect on follicle survival regardless of supplement (FBS or PVA). A few oocytes were collected from preantral follicles cultured in vitro. These basic reproductive techniques in domestic cats can be a useful tool to save endangered feline species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1363-1370
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• 2006

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Agaricus blazei $\beta-glucan$ and egg shell calcium complex on bone metabolism in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty Sprague-Dewley female rats, 10 weeks of age $(248{\pm}1.7g)$, were divided into 4 groups and fed on the experimental diets for 6 weeks: sham operated control treated with normal diet containing 0.5% calcium (Sham-C), OVX-control treated with normal diet containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-C), $OVX-\beta-glucan$ group treated with $\beta-glucan$ diet containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-G), and $OVX-\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex treated with $OVX-\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex containing 0.5% calcium (OVX-GE). Bone weight of femur was higher in the OVX-GE group than in the other OVX groups. Bone mineral density of femur was significantly different (p<0.05) among the experimental groups and showed the highest level in the OVX-GE group. Calcium absorption rate and retention were higher in the $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups than in the other groups (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activities and osteocalcin levels of serum showed lower in the $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups than in the OVX-C group. Deoxypyridinoline crosslink values of urine, indicator of bone absorption, showed the lowest in the OVX-GE group. The $\beta-glucan$ supplemented groups had a lower bone resorption ratio than in the OVX-C group. We concluded that bioavailability of calcium is higher in $\beta-glucan$ supplement groups compared to those in OVX rats. From the above results, these findings suggest the possibility of using $\beta-glucan$ egg shell calcium complex as a functional food material related to bone metabolism, even though there is no significant difference between the groups of $\beta-glucan$ and $\beta-glucan-egg$ shell calcium complex supplementation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2011

Although iron is an essential mineral, excess iron intake during pregnancy may increase oxidative stress in tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of iron overload during pregnancy on iron status and oxidative stress in maternal rats. Ten week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were mated with male rats. Non-pregnant (control) and pregnant rats were fed diets containing normal Fe (35 mg/kg diet), high Fe (350 mg/kg diet), or excess Fe (1,050 mg/kg diet) during pregnancy. Rats were sacrificed on pregnancy day 19. No significant difference in weight gain, diet intake, or litter size was observed according to iron intake levels. Furthermore, serum iron, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not different among the rats administered the three levels of Fe both in the control and pregnant groups. However, the iron levels were lower in pregnant rats than those in the control. The liver and spleen iron contents increased significantly in the excess Fe group. An increase in liver ferritin levels with increasing iron intake was observed. Protein carbonyl content, as a marker of oxidative stress, increased significantly in liver with increasing iron intake but not malondialdehyde. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver of pregnant rats fed excess iron decreased significantly. Bcl-2 protein expression in the liver declined remarkably with increasing maternal iron intake in pregnant rats. Taken together, iron overload during pregnancy had little effect on hematology. However, the deposits of iron in the liver and the decline in antioxidant enzyme activity implied increased oxidative stress in tissues of the excess Fe group. These results suggest that excess iron intake during pregnancy increases oxidative stress in maternal tissues and may also affect fetal tissues.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.853-859
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of egg shell calcium salt types and egg shell membrane on calcium metabolism in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats, 4 weeks of age, were fed on free-calcium diets for 2 weeks after adjustment period. Rats weighing approximately $247{\pm}2.3g$ were divided into 6 groups and were fed on the experimental diets containing 0.2% calcium for 4 weeks. Experimental groups were as follows; {ES(M+)} (egg shell powder diet with egg shell membrane), {ES(M-)} (egg shell powder diet without egg shell membrane), {AC(M+)} (egg shell calcium acetate diet with egg shell membrance), {AC(M-)} (egg shell calcium acetate diet without eg shell membrane), {GC(M+)} (egg shell calcium glucuronate diet with egg shell membrane) and {GC(M-)} (egg shell calcium glucuronate diet without egg shell membrane). Bone length of femur was significantly different by the types (p<0.05) of egg shell calcium salts. Bone mineral density of femur showed the highest level in AC(M-) group. Calcium content of femur and calcium absorption rate were higher in egg shell calcium salt groups than in eg shell powder groups. Calcium absorption rate and retention were significantly different (p<0.05) among the types of eg shell calcium salts and were higher in the AC(M-) group than in the other groups. Alkaline phosphatase activity, parathyroid hormone and osteocalcin levels of serum showed no significant difference among the experimental groups. From the above results, it is concluded that bioavailability of calcium is higher in groups of egg shell calcium salts compared to those in egg shell powder, even though egg shell membrane has no effect on calcium metabolism. Thus, these findings suggest the possibility of using egg shell calcium salts as a functional food material related to calcium metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the fusion pulses and fusion media on fusion rate and the development of embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer in Hanwoo (Korean cattle). Nuclear donor cumulus and fetal fibroblast cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$in air. The in vitro matured oocytes were enucleated and then the isolated donor cells were introduced. The cumulus cell and cytoplast were fused using one pulse of 70 volts for 40$mutextrm{s}$, two pulses of 70 volts for 40$mutextrm{s}$ and one pulse of 180 volts for 15$mutextrm{s}$. The fetal fibroblast cell and cytoplast were fused using one pulse of 180 volts for 15$mutextrm{s}$ or 30$mutextrm{s}$. The cumulus cell and cytoplast were fused using mannitol and Zimmerman cell fusion medium (ZCFM) as a fusion medium. The fused embryos were activated after the fusion with 10 $\mu$M calcium ionophore for 5 min and 2 mM 6-dimethyl- aminopurine for 3 h. The nuclear transfer embryos were cultured in 500 ${mu}ell$ well of modified CR1aa supplemented with 3 mg/$m\ell$ BSA in th $\varepsilon$ four well dish cove red with mineral oil. After 3 days culture, culture medium was changed into modified CRlaa medium containing 1.5 mg/$m\ell$ BSA and 5% FBS for 4 days. The incubation environment was 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$, 90% $N_2$ at 38.5$^{\circ}C$. When the cumulus cells were fused with enucleated oocytes by three different fusion pulses, one pulse of 180 volts for 15 $mutextrm{s}$ yielded the highest fusion rate and developmental rate to blastocyst among the pulses (P＜0.05). When the fetal fibroblast cells were fused with enucleated oocytes, one pulse of 180 volts for 30$mutextrm{s}$ yielded significantly higher fusion rate compared with that for 15 $mutextrm{s}$(P＜0.05). The present result indicates that the fusion rate between karyoplast and cytoplast was affected by the cell type and the optimal fusion condition was different according to cell type or size. When the fusion was conducted by the use of mannitol and ZCFM, the fusion rate was 71.2% and 65.8%, respectively. The developmental rates to blastocyst were 37.8% and 39.8%, respectively. There was no significant difference between two fusion media in the developmental rate of cumulus cell nuclear transfer embryos. These results indicate that optimal electric current should be selected according to cell type.