• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on the xylene metabolism. Methods : Among 247 workers, 116 were occupationally exposed to xylene and 131 were not. Workers exposed to xylene had different work such as spray, touch-up, mix & assist, and pre-treat. Questionnaire variables were age, sex, use of personal protective equipment, smoking, previous night's drinking and work duration. The urinary methylhippuric acid was measured in the urine collected in the afternoon and corrected by urinary creatinine concentration. The genotypes of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 were investigated by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. Results : 1. The urinary concentrations of o-, m-, and p-methylhippuric acid and total methylhippuric acid in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposed group (p<0.001). 2. In multiple regression analysis, the urinary methylhippuric acid concentration was significantly influenced by exposure grade (Job-exposure matrixes), smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment (p<0.1). 3. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not affect urinary methylhippuric acid level in the exposed group (p>0.05). Conclusions : Exposure grade, smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment affected urinary methylhippuric acid level, whereas genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not. However, further investigation for the effect of genetic polymorphism on the metabolism of xylene with a larger sample size is needed.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

The identification of biomarkers for the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) is clinically important. Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients is closely associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Conventional biomarkers, such as serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), are frequently used to diagnose AKI. However, these biomarkers increase only after significant structural damage has occurred. Recent efforts have focused on identification and validation of new noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of AKI, prior to extensive structural damage. Furthermore, AKI biomarkers can provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of this complex and heterogeneous disease. Our previous study suggested that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), which is excreted in the urine, is a sensitive biomarker for nephrotoxicity. To appropriately and optimally utilize PKM2 as a biomarker for AKI requires its complete characterization. This review highlights the major studies that have addressed the diagnostic and prognostic predictive power of biomarkers for AKI and assesses the potential usage of PKM2 as an early biomarker for AKI. We summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the role of biomarkers and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of AKI. This review will elucidate the biological basis of specific biomarkers that will contribute to improving the early detection and diagnosis of AKI.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba water extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups ; normal, STZ-control and Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba (A) water extract-administrated group. Rats in which diabetic was induced by intraperitonal injection with STZ(60 mg/kg body weight). STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administrated A extract daily for 5 weeks at doses of 200 or 500 mg/kg. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen were measured in sera of rats. Total volume of urine and urinary creatinine were also measured. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining for the expression of insulin and ${\alpha}$-SMA in pancreas and kidney were performed, respectively. Results : There were no differences in body and kidney weights between STZ-control and A extract-administrated groups. However, serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased in A extract-administrated groups compared with those of STZ-control group. Histopathological analysis of pancreas and kidney revealed increased the number of islets and insulin-positive beta-cells in pancreas, and decreased morphological changes of glomerulus and ${\alpha}$-SMA expression in kidney after the administration of A extract. Conclusions : These results suggest that Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba has a biological action on STZ-induced diabetes in rats via decreasing the serum levels of total triglyceride, and suppressing the morphological changes of pancreas and kidney.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.349-357
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• 1998

The aim of this experiments was to investigate the effect of Semen Plantaginis extract on. the renal function, plasma renin activity, plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone in rats. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Water balance decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 2. Urine volume increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1ml/200g. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 4. Urinary excretion of potassium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 5. Urinary excretion of chloride decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 6. Free water clearance increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract 0.1 ml/200 g, 2 week and 0.2 ml/200 g. 7. Urinary excretion of creatinine increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 8. Plasma renin activity decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.2 ml/200 g. 9. Plasma levels of aldosterone decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 10. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.301-305
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• 2012

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare inborn error of amino acid metabolism. A defect in the glycine cleavage enzyme system results in highly elevated concentrations of glycine in the plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain, resulting in glycine-induced encephalopathy and neuropathy. The prevalence of NKH in Korea is very low, and no reports of surviving patients are available, given the scarcity and poor prognosis of this disease. In the current study, we present a patient with NKH diagnosed on the basis of clinical features, biochemical profiles, and genetic analysis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allowed the measurement of absolute glycine concentrations in different parts of the brain that showed a significantly increased glycine peak, consolidating the diagnosis of NKH. In additional, serial MRS follow-up showed changes in the glycine/creatinine ratios in different parts of the brain. In conclusion, MRS is an effective, noninvasive diagnostic tool for NKH that can be used to distinguish this disease from other glycine metabolism disorders. It may also be useful for monitoring NKH treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.233-239
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• 1999

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the supplementation of lactic acid bacterias (LAB; S. thermophilus, L. acidophilus) aluminum accumulation and function kidney in rats treated with 250 g/g aluminum sulfate for 4 weeks. Fifty male Sprague Dawley strains were divided into five groups according to the types of supplement. the control, S. thermophilus culture group(A), autoclaved S. thermophilus culture(B), L. acidophilus culture group(C) and autoclaved L. acidophilus(D). The weight gain was increased by supplementation of S. thermophilus culture(A), autoclaved S. thermophilus culture(B), L. acidophilus culture(C), autoclaved L. acidophilus culture(D), especially by supplementation of S. thermophilus cultured(A) as compared to control group. The amount of water intake was increased in control group as compared to the LAB supplemented group. The content of aluminum were decreased 19.57%, 31.25%, 37.10%, and 32.40% in kidney after supplementation of non autoclaved culture group (A,C), and autoclaved group(B,D) respectively, as compared to control group. Water balance, urine volume, and excretion of sodium and potassium decreased in LAB supplemented group and control group. Excretion of creatinine increased in control group and tendency to increased in LAB supplemented group. In conclusion, the effect of suppression of aluminum accumulation was more effective in sup plementation of S. thermophilus culture(A), and L. acidophilus culture(C) than autoclaved S. thermo philus culture(B), and L. acidophilus culture(D).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2013

The effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on diabetic renal damage was investigated using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats showed loss of body weight gain, and increases in kidney weight and urine volume, whereas the oral administration of KRG at a dose of 100 or 250 mg/kg of body weight per day for 28 d prevented these diabetes-induced physiological abnormalities. Among the kidney function parameters, elevated plasma levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine in diabetic control rats tended to be lowered in KRG-treated rats. In addition, administration of KRG at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight in the diabetic rats showed significant decreases in serum glucose and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), implying that KRG might prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic complications caused by impaired glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. KRG also significantly reduced advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation and secretion from kidney of diabetic rats. Furthermore, KRG decreased the levels of N-(carboxymethyl) lysine and expression of AGE receptor. KRG also reduced the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the kidney via deactivation of nuclear factor-kappa B. We also found that KRG prevented STZ-induced destruction of glomerular structure and significantly suppressed high glucose-induced fibronectin production. Taken together, KRG ameliorates abnormalities associated with diabetic nephropathy through suppression of inflammatory pathways activated by TNF-${\alpha}$ and AGEs. These findings indicate that KRG has a beneficial effect on pathological conditions associated with diabetic nephropathy.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of major chronic diseases related to daily oral water intake and to identify the physiological parameters related to dehydration in Korean elderly. Methods: The data were collected from the sixth Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KHANES), which was a nationwide and cross-sectional survey in 2015. We analyzed 1,392 participants using t-test and logistic regression. All participants were divided into the adequate water intake (AWI) group and the non-adequate water intake (NAWI) group based on the dietary reference intakes for Koreans. Results: There was a significant difference in the water intake between the AWI (6.8 cups in a day) and NAWI (2.8 cups) groups (p< .001). There was no statistically significant association between the level of water intake and any of the major chronic diseases. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and BUN/Creatinine (Cr) ratio were significantly higher in the NAWI group. Especially, BUN/Cr ratio shows that the NAWI group reached dehydration status. Older age (adjusted odd ratio, OR= 1.07, 95% confidence interval, CI [1.04-1.10]), female gender (adjusted OR= 1.56, 95% CI [1.05-2.33]), lower body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.92-1.00]), higher BUN (adjusted OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.01-1.08]), and higher urine specific gravity (USG) (adjusted OR= 1.56, 95% CI [1.19-2.05]) were factors associated with the NAWI group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the level of water intake needs to be considered in relation to age, gender, BMI, BUN, and USG. These are sensitive physiological parameters used for predicting dehydration of the elderly according to their daily oral water intake. It would be helpful to develop strategies to prevent dehydration in elderly individuals and enhance their water intake.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 1992

This study was undertaken to investigate protein effects on the adaptation of shift work. Since biorhythms differ according to the time of day, an investigation of the change of metabolism during day-shift and night-shift was undertaken by dividing twenty 3-shift worker into two groups: dormitory diet group and milk & egg supplemented group. Between the two groups, estimations were made on the concentrations of serum protain, albumin, cholesterol and cortisol and the excretion of vanilymandelic acid(VMA), creatinine and nitrogen in urine. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Serum ingredients were gathered from workers at 6:00-7:00h and 14:00-15:00h on the day of their change from morning shift(6:00-14:00h) to night shift(22:00-6:00h). On examnation of the serum ingredient it was found that, in dormitory diet group only the concentrarion level of serum albumin showed a change of rhythm adapted to night work, and in the milk & egg supplemented group the concentration levels of serum protein, albumin and cholesterol all showed a change of rhythm adapted to night work. Serum cortisol of both groups showed the same rhythm as during morining shfits, which implied nonadatation to night work, but the concentration was observed to be lower. 2. Excretion of urinary VMA and nitrogen were higher during night work than during morning work: they were also higher on the 6th day than on the 1st, in comparing the two groups, excretion of VMA was higher among the dormitory diet group, whereas the opposite was ture for excretion of nitrogen among the milk & egg supplemented group. There was no sign of difference in excretion of cretinine among the two experiment groups.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.507-516
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• 2012

Kidney stones occur in approximately 1% of the population during their lifetime. Although the development of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) has revolutionized the theraphy of urolithiasis, the rate of recurrence of urothiasis, the rate of recurrenece of stones after SWL is about 50% within 10 years, which still represents serious problems for patienes. So to clarify the mechanism of Urocalum, and QS (Quercus salicina Blume) extract in the treatment of urolithiasis. Rat calcium oxalate urolithiasis was induced by oral administration of ethylene glycol and the vitamin D3 analog alfacalcidol for 14 days and QS extract was given to rats. After the last administration, we measured in urine, serum and renal oxidative stress marker. Ethylene glycol and alfacalcidol treatment increased BUN, creatinine, uric acid and XO. This increase was significantly suppressed by the administration of QS extract. These finding suggest that the QS extract plays a role in the prevention of stone formation and recureence in urolithiasis.