• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2004

We investigated the reproductive cycle of Corbicula japonica with its gonadal development by histological observations, and the seasonal changes in biochemical mass and foot muscle of the adductor muscle, visceral mass and foot muscle of the clam by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2003. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (February to April), late active stage (April to July), ripe stage (June to August), partially spawned stage (July to September) and spent/inactive stage (September to March). According to ANOVA test, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in total protein, total lipid and glycogen contents among months for all of the visceral mass, adductor muscle and foot muscle. Total protein content was highest in adductor muscle, while lowest in visceral mass. There was no correlation in total protein content between visceral mass and adductor muscle (p = 0.208). However, strong positive correlation was found between adductor muscle and foot muscle (r = 0.769, p < 0.001). In visceral mass, total lipid content was the highest; it was 2 or 3-fold higher than in adductor muscle or foot muscle. The monthly change was also most dynamic in visceral mass. It decreased from January to March (early active stage), and reached maximum in April (late active stage). From May to August (ripe and partially spawned stage), it dradually decreased and then increased again until October (spent/inactive stage). Multiple comparisons showed that total lipid content in visceral mass between all of the adjacent two months was significaltly different (p < 0.05). There were strong negative correlations in total lipid content between visceral mass and adductor muscle (r = 0.687, p < 0.001), and between visceral mass and foot muscle (r = 0.473, p = 0.008). Changes of glycogen content were more or less similar to the changes of lipid contents in visceral mass, adductor muscle and foot muscle, except for April. In April, glycogen content in visceral mass was over four times higher than that in adductor muscle or foot muscle. There was a positive correlation in glycogen content between adductor muscle and foot muscle (r = 0.686, p < 0.001). Especially, total lipid content showed a negative correlation between the adductor muscle and visceral mass. Therefore, these results indicate that the nutrient content of the adductor muscle, visceral muscle and foot muscle changed in response to gonadal energy needs.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2004

We investigated the reproductive cycle with gonadal development of the female Cyclina sinensis by histological observations and seasonal changes in biochemical components of the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues were studied by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2001. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (February to April), late active stage (March to June), ripe stage (May to August), partially spawned stage (July to October) and spent/inactive stage (September to February). Total protein contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in February (early active stage) and appeared the minimum in June (ripe stage), while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in the late active and ripe stages (June) and gradually decreased from July (partially spawned stage) to November (spent/inactive stage). Changes in total protein contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.499, p = 0.099). Total lipid contents in the adductor muscle tissues reached the maximum in January (the inactive stages) and their contents gradually decreased from February. Their contents in the visceral mass tissues, however, reached the maximum in June (late active and ripe stage) and gradually decreased from July (the partially spawned stage). On the whole, total lipid contents showed a negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues (r = -0.631, p < 0.05). Therefore, These results indicate that the nutrient contents of the adductor muscle and visceral muscle tissues change in response to gonadal energy needs. Glycogen contents in the adductor muscle tissue reached the maximum in March (early and late active stages) and decreased from July to September (partially spawned stage). while their contents in the visceral mass tissues reached the maximum in June (late active and ripe stages) and gradually decreased from July (partially spawned stage). Thereafter, their levels gradually increased in November (spent/inactive stage). On the whole, changes in glycogen contents appeared negative correlationship between the adductor muscle and visceral mass tissues. However, they showed no significant different (r = -0.307, p = 0.331).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2006

We investigated the reproductive cycle of the hard clam, Meretrix petechialis with its gonadal development by histological observations. The seasonal changes in biochemical component of the adductor muscle, visceral mass, foot muscle and mantle of the clam were studied by biochemical analysis, from January to December, 2002. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: early stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (July to August) and spent/inactive stage (September to January). Total protein content in the visceral mass was over two times higher than that in the adductor muscle. Monthly changes of total protein content in the adductor muscle were not statistically significant (ANOVA, p = 0.071), while the changes in the visceral mass were significant (p < 0.001). Total protein content in visceral mass was higher during the early active, late active, and ripe stages (from January to May), while the lowest in July. Glycogen content in the adductor muscle was higher than that in the visceral mass. Monthly changes in glycogen contents were statistically significant in both adductor muscle (F = 237.2, p < 0.001) and the visceral mass (F = 64.04, p < 0.001). Glycogen content in the adductor muscle was the highest in the ripe stage (April). Its content was lower in the partially spawned and the spent/inactive stages (June-September). Glycogen contents in the visceral mass were relatively lower until the early active stage, while the highest in the late active stage. RNA content was higher in visceral mass than that in the adductor muscle. Monthly changes in RNA contents were significant in both adductor muscle (F = 195.2, p < 0.001) and visceral mass (F = 78.85, p < 0.001). RNA content in the adductor muscle was high in the early active stage (January-February), and then it decreased rapidly in the late active stage (March-April), thereafter, slightly increased during the partially spawned stage (June-July). RNA content in the visceral mass reached a maximum during the ripe stage (May), and then it decreased rapidly during the partially-spawned stage (June-July). There was significant positive correlation in total protein contents between adductor muscle and visceral mass (r = 0.715, p = 0.020). However, there was no correlation between adductor muscle and visceral mass in glycogen (p = 0.550), while a negative correlation was found between the adductor muscle and visceral mass in RNA (p = 0.518) contents. Especially, changes in RNA content showed a negative correlation between the adductor muscle tissue and visceral mass. Therefore, these results suggest that the nutrient content of the adductor muscle, visceral muscle and foot muscle changed in response to gonadal energy needs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2001

Seasonal content changes of the three key nutrients for organisms, protein, lipid and glycogen, were analyzed for a whole year to delineate the seasonal energy strategy in pen shells, Atrina pectinata. Two metabolically important organs, the visceral mass and the posterior adductor muscle, were examined. Protein in the visceral mass rose in April and stayed at the level until June followed by the constant minimum value between August and November. The protein contents in the posterior adductor muscle increased sharply in April and again in July, followed by a gradual decline thereafter. Total lipid contents in the visceral mass gradually increased between January and May, and then slowly decreased until September since which a new weak increase was noticed. Lipid levels in the adductor muscle rapidly dropped in June and July. Glycogen contents in the visceral mass rapidly increased between February and June, followed by a drastic drop in July. This reduced visceral glycogen level was maintained up to September, and a gradual reduction ensued. Glycogen contents in the adductor muscle steadily but markedly increased from April reaching the maximum in August, and then slowly declined thereafter. These results suggest that an accelerated protein and lipid synthesis occurs in the gonad when the pen shell undergoes the ripe stage of gametogenesis, but the levels of these two nutrients decrease on spawning. With this gonadal process, regular protein synthesis and lipid storage in the posterior adductor muscle are temporarily arrested. The most important nutrient reserves that support gonad developmental cycles in a long term seem to be glycogen of the posterior adductor muscle.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-143
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• 2010

Objectives : This study examined search on how the obesity indices, that are largely used in clinics such as waist circumference(WC), body mass index(BMI) and waist-hip ratio(WHR), are related to the visceral fat that was measured from abdominal computed tomography(CT) and the ratio of visceral fat/subcutaneous fat. Then, two groups ware compared in order to find out which characteristics of ordinary adults relationship with the abdominal obesity. Two groups are divided as follows; ones who are obese based on the measurement of WC and the others who are obese based on the level of BMI. Methods : A group of 63 test subjects that were gathered in the oriental medical hospital of Kyung-Won university is divided into two groups; ones (n=51, general obesity; group A) who have $BMI{\geq}25$ and $WC{\geq}85$, and the others (n=12, abdominal obesity; group B) who have BMI<25 and $WC{\geq}85$. Then, each group's obesity indices, abdominal CT, lipid level, glucose, adiponectin, leptin and C-reactive protein(CRP) are compared. In addition, subjects are again divided into two to examine the characteristics; ones (n=14, visceral obesity; group C) with visceral obesity based on the ratio between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat measured through abdominal CT, and the others (n=38, non-visceral obesity; group D) who are obese but not viscerally obese. Results & Conclusions : As a measurement that applies abdominal visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, BMI and WC can be considered as an appropriate obesity index while WHR cannot appropriately apply the abdominal fat amount. Moreover, the study indicates that abdominal obesity group based on the ratio of visceral fat/subcutaneous fat has more significant difference than the abdominal obesity group based on the WC in case of blood lipid index.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.44-48
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• 2015

Body fat distribution in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by reduce lean body mass (LBM), increased total body fat mass (FM), and lower percentage of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Individuals with PWS seem to have a lower risk for insulin resistance with high levels of adiponectin, an anti-atherogenic adipocytokine that is decreased in visceral fat hypertrophy subjects compared to simple obese subjects, both in children and in adults. The mechanism of the reduction in visceral adiposity in PWS is still unclear. It might be related to qualitative intrinsic characteristics of adipocyte or novel genetic influences on the control of fat distribution. However, obesity remains a critical problem, and obesity status plays a crucial role in individual metabolic risk clustering and development of metabolic syndrome (Mets) in PWS children and adults. Long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment after cessation of skeletal growth improved body composition, with an increase in lean body mass and a reduction in total body fat and subcutaneous and visceral fat in PWS adults. Thus, the role of GH is important after childhood because it might attenuate obesity and Mets in PWS adult by adipocyte modification.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2017

It was demonstrated that Gangjihwan (DF), which is the herbal composition composed of Ephedra intermedia, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and Rheum palmatum, inhibits obesity and hepatic steatosis in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DF on visceral obesity, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and the mechanism of actions involved in this process using in vivo and in vitro approaches. DF was extracted with water (DF-FW), 30% grain alcohol (DF-GA30), and 70% grain alcohol (DF-GA70). Administration of DF to HFD-fed control mice decreased visceral tissue mass and visceral adipocyte size without adverse effects. Visceral fat mass was decreased by DF-GA30 and DF-GA70, and visceral adipocyte size by all three DF extracts compared with obese control mice. Histological analysis revealed that three kinds of DF extracts reduced toluidine blue-stained mast cells and collagen accumulation in the liver, the extents of which were most eminent in DF-GA70-treated mice. DF-GA70 decreased the mRNA levels of the inflammation ($TNF{\alpha}$ and VCAM-1), fibrosis (${\alpha}-SMA$), and apoptosis (caspase 3) genes, but increasing the anti-apoptosis gene (Bcl-2) mRNA levels in the liver of obese control mice. Consistent with the in vivo data, GA-70 also altered the expression of inflammation genes ($TNF{\alpha}$ and MCP-1) in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that DF not only inhibits visceral obesity, but also ameliorates visceral obesity-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and that this process may be mediated by regulating the hepatic expression of inflammatory and fibrogenic genes.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of modified fasting therapy on the changes of body compositions. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 33 patients, who carried out modified fasting therapy at Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University from January 1st, 2011 to December 30th, 2015. They went through reducing food intakes period (7 days), fasting period (14 days) and refeeding period (14 days). Body compositions (weight, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass, percent body fat, basal metabolic rate, waist-hip ratio, visceral fat area) were reviewed at each state. And then the data was analyzed. Results: The body composition values (weight, body mass index [BMI], skeletal muscle mass, percent body fat, basal metabolic rate, waist-hip ratio, visceral fat area) decreased during the fasting therapy period, as a whole. The weight, BMI, percent body fat and visceral fat area decreased during the reducing food intakes period, the fasting period and the refeeding period. The skeletal muscle mass and basal metabolic rate significantly decreased during the reducing food intakes period and the fasting period, and insignificantly increased during the refeeding period. Conclusions: Results from this investigation showed that modified fasting therapy using fermented herbal medicine have positive effects on changes of body compositions.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 2018

Background: Body fats, especially both of abdominal fat pad mass and skeletal muscle fat content, are inversely related to insulin action. Therefore, methods for decreasing visceral fat mass and muscle triglyceride content may be helpful for the prevention of insulin resistance. Methods: Thalidomide, used for its anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, was administered to rats for 4 weeks. A 10% solution of thalidomide in dimethyl sulfoxide was injected daily into the peritoneal cavity as much as 100 mg/kg of body weight. Results: The total visceral fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was 11% lower than in the control group. The size of adipocytes of the epididymal fat pad mass in the thalidomide-treated group was smaller than in the control group. The intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment increased triglyceride concentrations by 16% in the red muscle, but not in the white muscle. Conclusion: The results suggested that intraperitoneal thalidomide treatment inhibited abdominal fat accumulation, and that the free fatty acids in the blood were preferentially accumulated in the red muscle rather than in the white muscle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2020

Purpose : Obesity indices are major predictive markers for coronary artery stenosis, but there are few studies about the relationship between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis in the Korean population. Therefore, we analyzed the association between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis among health-screen examinees. Methods : This study included 99 males and females who visited a health-examination center. The obesity indices included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), visceral adipose tissue/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (V/S ratio). All subjects had their degree of coronary artery stenosis measured using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). A multiple logistic regression test was conducted to analyze the association between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis. Results : This study was taken by multiple logistic regression test adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, frequency of alcohol drinking/week and frequency of exercise/week. The adjusted odds ratio for the presence of coronary artery stenosis for subjects with abdominal obesity (abdominal obesity defined as a waist circumference ≥ 90 cm in males; ≥ 85 cm in females) was 6.263 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.974-19.869), for subjects with visceral obesity by visceral adipose tissue (visceral obesity defined as a visceral adipose tissue ≥ 100) was 11.430 (95 % CI 3.044-42.928). Conclusion : In this study of adults, WC and VAT were independent predictors of coronary artery stenosis. These results suggest that WC and VAT may be useful markers of coronary artery stenosis.