• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2008

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus combined with several oriental medicinal herbs. In addition, it addressed whether consuming a diet of healthy food along with a daily supplement of this composite could affect the health status of individuals suffering from diet-related disease such as obesity and hyperlipidemia. The effects of the combined medicinal herbal extracts(MHE) extracted with hot water on reducing serum lipids and improving blood parameters were examined in rats fed a high-fat diet for 5 weeks. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: basal diet only(BDG), high fat diet without MHE(FCG), high fat diet and 10% MHE(F10E) and high fat diet and 20% MHE(F20E). Serum lipid contents and blood variables were examined after the experimental period. The results of were as follows. The hematological data for the 4 groups were similar indicating no significant differences. There were moderate level of serum GOT activity in the F10E and F20E groups as compared to the FCG group. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in serum and the atherogenic index were remarkably reduced in the MHE-supplemented groups as compared to the control group. However, F10E and F20E groups had significantly higher HDL-cholesterol levels than the control group. These results imply that combination of several medicinal herbal extracts could be used to reduce of serum lipid concentrations. The data from this study will be used as basic information with the field of functional food research to address how we can apply oriental medicinal resources to foods. Such research currently drawing considerable attention world-wide.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.662-669
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• 2011

An experiment was conducted with broiler (Cobb 400) male chicks (n = 480) to determine the effect of betaine (Bet) supplementation (0 and 800 mg/kg) to diets containing five concentrations (15, 18, 20, 22 and 24 g/kg crude protein, CP) of methionine (Met) in a $2{\times}5$ factorial study for performance, carcass traits, immune responses, and serum parameters. Each diet was fed ad libitum from 1 to 42 d of age to 8 replicates of 6 chicks. Birds were housed in battery brooders placed in an open-sided poultry shed. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and slaughter variables were recorded at 21 and 42 d of age. Serum biochemical profile, antibody production against Newcastle disease (ND) and lymphocyte proliferation ratio (LPR) were analysed at 42 d of age. Supplementing Bet to diets containing sub-optimal concentrations of Met (15 g/kg) improved weight gain and breast yield at 21 d of age (p<0.01), and feed conversion efficiency at 42 d of age (p<0.05). Feed efficiency at 21 d of age, body weight gain at 42 d of age, slaughter variables except breast yield at 21 d of age and ND antibody titres were not affected (p>0.05) by the interaction. LPR increased (p<0.05) with Bet supplementation at 20 g Met/kg CP equal to those broilers fed 24 g Met without Bet. Bet supplementation enhanced the concentrations of protein, globulin and cholesterol in serum of broilers fed sub-optimal concentrations of Met. Results suggested that Bet supplementation (800 mg/kg diet) enhanced growth (21 d), feed conversion efficiency (42 d), breast yield and lymphocyte proliferation in broilers fed a diet containing 15 g Met/kg CP.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 1991

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary calcium. serum estrogen level and physical activity on the bone status of 116 healthy elderly women living in urban area. Current calcium intake was assessed by convenient method(refered to as Ca intake) and calcium containing food frequency method(refered to as Ca index) Daily activity record was used for the estimation of physical activity level, and serum estrogen level was measured from fasting blood of subjects. The rate of bone resorption was evaluated by the determination of hydroxyproline(Hpr) in fasting urine with correction for creatinine excretion. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1) Average daily Ca intake of subjects was 621.4$\pm$155.8mg, which is above the Korean recommended dietary allowances. However 44.8% of the subjects consumed Ca below RDA level. Ca index score was significantly correlated with the bone status(P<0.05), Ca intake did not show significant correlation with the bone status although a positive trend of influence was evident. 2) Average serum estrogen level of subjects was 18.7$\pm$9.8pg Contrary to our anticipation. estrogen level did not show any significant relation to age and bone status. 3) Daily physical activity was classified into four categories by activity intensity : sedentary. moderate, active and severe. The average physical activity of subjects belong to moderate level. and the bone status was significantly related to the physical activity(P<0.01) 4) Among other influential factors such as age, pocket-money. family type. drinking, smoking and BMI, there was a significant difference between bone status and BMI(P<0.05). 5) Multiple regression analysis of variables showed that physical activity has greater effect than other variables when the entire subjects were taken into account. However. eliminating the subjects whose bone status rated as excellent(Hpr/cr<0.009), Ca index showed higher correlation than physical activity. These results have demonstrated that dietary calcium intake is the primary important factor for keeping good bone health and that bone status of subjects with a sufficient calcium intake is affected by various factors such as physical activity, age, smoking. BMI and others.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 1998

The object of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress and the extent of coronary artery stenosis in 101 patients with coronary artery diseases. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and perceived stress response inventory were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses. Biological variables such as the extent of coronary artery stenosis, the number of the affected lesions on coronary angiography, serum Low Density Lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol, and total cholesterol were measured in all the subjects. Scores of perceived stress related to changes in relationship and overall global scores on GARS scale had significantly positive correlation with the extent of coronary artery stenosis. On the other hand, scores of percieved stress related to changes in relationship and changes or no changes in routine had significantly positive correlation with the number of the lesions. Scores of perceived stress related to change or no change in routine also positively correlated with serum level of LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. In contrast, general somatic symptoms negatively correlated with the extent of coronary artery stenosis. Impulsive-aggressive behavior negatively correlated with the number of the lesions. However, impulsive-aggressive thinking positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol. The above results suggest that perception for stressors may negatively affect the extent of coronary artery stenosis, the number of the lesions, serum LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. However, some stress responses showed inconsistent effect on the above biological variables. Thus, strategies designed to modify perception for stressors and some stress responses are likely to help the patients minimize the extent of coronary artery stenosis and prevent the diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to verify the relation between vegetarian diet and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. To do the present study the vegetarians were selected;245 Buddhist nuns(age: 23-79yrs). For control subjects, 235 healthy female adults(age: 23-79yrs) were selected. They were the teachers, the nurses and the housekeepers living in Chinju Gyeongsang Namdoo Province. Study period was from October 1996 to February 1997. The contents are consist of survey, anthropometric measurement, and clinical examination. The average ages of the subjects were 44.20yrs for vegetarians and 40.52yrs for non-vegetarians respectively. Average body mass indice(BMI) of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 22.47 and 21.08, WHR was 0.85 and 0.84, percentage of body fat was 28.79 and 26.55 and the average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.16 years. On the nutrient related lipid, fat, the energy ratio of fat, saturated fatty acid, total fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid and total-cholesterol were significantly lower(p<0.01) but the ratio of p/s was significantly higher(p<0.01) in vegetarians than non-vegetarians. The vegetarians were significantly higher than the non-vegetarians in intake of fiber, vitamin C. In vegetarians, variables that significant negative correlation with fiber were total-cholesterol, AI, blood sugar. In non-vegetarians, variables that significant negative correlation with fiber were TG, total-cholesterol, blood sugar, systolic blood pressure. In both subjects, the serum lipid concentration and the blood pressure were getting lower with fiber intakes. Consequently, vegetable diet can be considerably effective in making the level of the risk factors causing in cardiovascular disease lower. (Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 313∼321, 2001)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is common in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to identify whether or not sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake have effects on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective was to identify the main determinants of serum vitamin D status in the study subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 47 HD patients (19 males and 28 females) was performed. We assessed serum 25(OH)D and $1,25(OH)_2D$ levels between August and September 2012 and analyzed the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HD patients. To evaluate the determinants of serum 25(OH)D levels, we surveyed dietary vitamin D intake, degree of sun exposure, and outdoor activities. To compare biological variables, serum 25(OH)D was stratified as below 15 ng/ml or above 15 ng/ml. RESULTS: Mean 25(OH)D and $1,25(OH)_2D$ levels were $13.5{\pm}5.8ng/ml$ and $20.6{\pm}11.8pg/ml$, respectively. The proportions of serum 25(OH)D deficiency (< 15 ng/ml), insufficiency (15-< 30 ng/ml), and sufficiency (${\geq}30ng/ml$) in subjects were 72.4%, 23.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in female patients was 78.6%, whereas that in males was 63.2% (P = 0.046). Vitamin D intake and sun exposure time were not significantly different between the two stratified serum 25(OH)D levels. Dietary intake of vitamin D did not contribute to increased serum 25(OH)D levels in HD patients. The main effective factors affecting serum 25(OH)D status were found to be the sun exposure and active outdoor exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D is common in HD patients and is higher in females than in males. Sun exposure is the most important determinant of serum 25(OH)D status in HD patients.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2010

1. Objectives: Leptin is ob-gene originated hormone that is concerned with energy metabolism, obesity and asthma which features are supposed to related with Sasangin's 4 viscera physiological theory of Sasang constitutional medicine(SCM). This study aims to investigate whether serum leptin concentration is associated with Sasangin. 2. Methods: Two Way ANOVA analysis was used on the constitution and serum leptin concentration corresponding with BMI among 1054 cases drawn from the Constitutional Information Bank, which was a database with clinically confirmed constitution cases collected from 21 oriental medical institutes in Korea starting from November 2007 to May 2009. The measurement of serum leptin concentration is implemented through radioimmunoassay by request to SCL. 3. Results: Male subjects showed notable difference(p=0.033) in the comparison between constitution and serum leptin concentration corresponding to BMI levels. Tae-eumins showed the highest serum leptin concentration levels in the normal and overweight groups, followed by Soyangin and Soeumin. As the groups changed from overweight to obese, there was an interaction phenomenon in the order of serum leptin concentration levels(p=0.040). As a result, Soeumins showed the highest serum leptin concentration levels and Tae-eumins and Soyangins followed in place. Female subjects did not show statistically notable differences in comparison between constitution and serum leptin concentration corresponding to BMI levels(p=0.239). Serum leptin concentration levels among overweight and obese groups, resulted in the order of Soeumins, Tae-eumins, and Soyangins. But in the as groups changed from overweight to normal the order resulted in Tae-eumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin(p=0.660). 4. Conclusion: Due to a number of limitations in this study, the examination of the relation between constitution and leptin, a main hormone responsible for the digestion, appetite, and energy metabolism, resulted to be uncertain. But statistically notable differences were confirmed in male Tae-eumins with the consideration of BMI. Further examination of the relation between constitution and leptin is necessary through prospective studies with the restriction of confusion variables in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2016

Purpose: Patients suffering from acute poisoning by different substances often visit the emergency department (ED) and receive various prognoses according to the toxic material and patients' condition. Hyperlactatemia, which is an increased blood lactate level that generally indicates tissue hypoperfusion, is commonly utilized as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients such as those with sepsis. This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between blood lactate and clinical prognosis in acute poisoned patients. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from January 2013 to June 2014 at a single and regional-tertiary ED. We enrolled study patients who were examined for blood test with lactate among acute intoxicated patients. The toxic materials, patient demographics, laboratory data, and mortalities were also reviewed. Additionally, we analyzed variables including blood lactate to verify the correlation with patient mortality. Results: A total of 531 patients were enrolled, including 24 (4.5%) non-survivors. Patient age, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), serum creatinine (Cr), aspartate transaminase (AST), and serum lactate differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors in the binary logistic regression analysis. Among these variables, GCS, AST, and lactate differed significantly. The median serum lactate levels were 2.0 mmol/L among survivors and 6.9 mmol/L among non-survivors. The AUC with the ROC curve and odds ratio of the initial serum lactate were 0.881 and 3.06 (0.89-8.64), respectively. Conclusion: Serum lactate was correlated with fatalities of acute poisoning patients in the ED; therefore, it may be used as a clinical predictor to anticipate their prognoses.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.475-483
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• 2022

Objective: Methionine (Met) is involved in methyl group transfer besides protein synthesis. As the availability is limited and cost is high for synthetic Met, reductions in its inclusion in broiler diet may be possible by supplementing the low Met diets with methyl donors (MD) like betaine (Bet), folic acid (FA), vitamin B12 (B12), and biotin (Bio). An experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementing the MD on performance (average daily gain [ADG], daily feed intake, feed efficiency [FE]), anti-oxidant variables, immune responses and serum protein concentration in broilers fed sub-optimal concentrations of dietary Met. Methods: Maize-soybean meal diet was used as control (CD). Different MD like Bet (0.2%), B12 (0.1 mg), FA (4 mg), or Bio (1.5 mg/kg) were supplemented to basal diet (BD) having no supplemental Met. The BD without MD was kept for comparison. Each diet was fed ad libitum to 10 replicates of 25 chicks in each from 1 to 42 d of age. Results: At the end of experiment, the ADG in MD group was higher than BD and lower than CD. The FE improved with FA or Bet compared to the BD. Breast meat weight was higher in Bet compared to the BD, while it was intermediate between BD and CD in other groups. The lipid peroxidation reduced with Bio, B12, or Bet, while the glutathione peroxidase activity improved with Bio or B12 compared to the BD. Lymphocyte proliferation improved with Bet compared to the BD. The serum protein concentrations increased with FA, Bio, or Bet compared to those fed BD. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the ADG can be improved partially with supplementation of MD while the FE improved with FA or Bet. Some MD also reduced the stress indices and improved immune responses compared to the BD fed broilers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between iron deficiency without anemia and physical performance in healthy women aged 20-21 yrs. Ten subjects with normal iron stores (serum ferritin $\geq$ 12$\mu\textrm{g}$/L: iron-sufficient group) and 11 subjects with iron depletion without anemia (serum ferritin < 12 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L and serum hemoglobin > 120 g/L: iron-depleted group) were chosen from a group of 50 women and were given physical-performance tests, including determinations of maximum oxygen consumption (VO$_2$ max) and ventilatory threshold. Iron status assessment included determination of hemoglobin, hematocrit, seam ferritin, total iron-binding rapacity, serum iron and transferrin saturation values. Dietary iron intake was assessed based on seven-day food intake records written by the subjects. Physical activity level was estimated by frequency questionnaires and two-week physical activity records were compiled daily by the subjects. Blood ferritin concentration was significantly lower in the iron-depleted group than in the iron-sufficient group (p < 0.05). However, other variables showing iron status was not different between the groups. There were no significant differences in body size, body composition and physical activity levels between the groups. Daily dietary iron, total protein and animal protein intakes of the iron-sufficient group were significantly higher than those of the iron depleted group. However, no differences were found in the amount of dietary vitamin C and fiber between the groups. The values for VO$_2$max and VO$_2$max corrected with weight or fat-free mass were not different between the groups. However, the ventilatory threshold was significantly higher in the iron sufficient group than in the iron-depleted group. The lower ventilatory threshold in the iron-depleted group suggests that iron depletion without anemia could diminish aerobic physical performance in young women. In addition, a significant correlation of physical performance to serum fferritin level was shown only in the iron depleted group.