• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.583-589
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• 2016

BACKDROUND/OBJECTIVE: Constipation is a condition that can result from intestinal deformation. Because humans have an upright posture, the effects of gravity can cause this shape deformation. Oligosaccharides are common prebiotics and their effects on bowel health are well known. However, studies of the physiological functionality of a product that contains both lactulose and galactooligosaccharides are insufficient. We investigated the constipation reduction effect of a dual-type oligosaccharide, Dual-Oligo, in loperamide-treated rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Dual-Oligo consists of galactooligosaccharides (15.80%) and lactulose (51.67%). Animals were randomly divided into four groups, the normal group (normal), control group (control), low concentration of Dual-Oligo (LDO) group, and high concentration of Dual-Oligo (HDO) group. After 7 days of oral administration, fecal pellet amount, fecal weight, watercontent of fecal were measured. Blood chemistry, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), gastrointestinal transit ratio and length and intestinal mucosa were analyzed. RESULTS: Dual-Oligo increased the fecal weight, and water content of feces in rats with loperamide-induced constipation. Gastrointestinal transit ratio and length and area of intestinal mucosa significantly increased after treatment with Dual-Oligoin loperamide-induced rats. A high concentration of Dual-Oligo tended to produce more acetic acid than that observed for the control group, and Dual-Oligo affected the production of total SCFA. Bifidobacteria concentration of cecal contents in the high-concentration oligosaccharide (HDO) and low-concentration oligosaccharide (LDO) groups was similar to the result of the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that Dual-Oligo is a functional material that is derived from a natural food product and is effective in ameliorating constipation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.103-121
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the entire world population in many ways. This study aimed to analyze the patterns of changes in eating, food purchasing and preparation, physical activity, and subjective health after COVID-19 outbreak by various sociodemographic factors and to understand the factors associated with changes in subjective health. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a representative sample from Seoul was used for the analysis. The data collection was conducted from September to October 2020. A total of 3,833 citizens aged more than 18 years old participated in the Seoul Food Survey. Descriptive statistics and generalized ordinal logistic regression models were used to understand the changes in health behaviors, health indicators, and subjective general health by various socioeconomic status. RESULTS: It was shown that the changes in household income, food expenditure, food consumption and physical activities differed significantly by age, education, occupation, income, weight, and food security status. Low-income and food-insecure households were affected more severely by the pandemic. Older age, household food insecurity, income reduction, increased home cooking and frequency of having instant foods, decreased physical activity and weight gain were significant factors explaining worse perceived health during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that focusing on older populations and low-income families with food insecurity should be prioritized during infectious disease outbreaks. In addition, the role of physical activities and instant food consumption in explaining perceived health should be investigated further in this prolonged battle with the pandemic situation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.520-526
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• 2012

Various forms of fermented soybean products are well documented for their health benefits. The efficacy of anti-obesogenic effect of Doenjang, one of the most commonly used seasonings in Korean cuisine, has been reported only in animal models; thus, an evaluation of Doenjang needs to be conducted in human studies. We aimed to test the hypothesis that Doenjang supplementation reduces body weight and changes body composition in overweight adults. A total of 51 overweight adults participated in this study. A group of males with BMI ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ and waist to hip ratio (WHR) ${\geq}$ 0.90, and a group of females with BMI ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ and WHR ${\geq}$ 0.85 were randomly assigned to either a Doenjang supplement (9.9 g dry/day) group or a placebo group for a 12-week randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerized tomography (CT) and blood components were measured before and after the intervention period. After the 12-week study, the Doenjang supplementation group had significant reductions in body weight (kg), body fat mass (kg) and body fat (%) compared to the placebo group, the supplementation of Doenjang resulted in a significant reduction in visceral fat ($cm^2$), although no changes were observed in total and subcutaneous fat are as ($cm^2$), serum lipid profiles and dietary intakes. The present study demonstrated that daily supplementation of 9.9 g dry/day of Doenjang for 12 weeks reduces body weight and visceral fat in overweight adults.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 1997

This study was undertaken to identify the musculotendinous problems and contributing factors to those problems In students majoring in musical instruments in Korea. The data were collected from March 2, 1996 to March 31, 1996 from 261 music students in various geographical areas. The data were analyzed for descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square using SPSS $PC^+$ program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. In a questionnaire survey of 261 music students, one hundred twenty five(47.9%) reported having had various musculotendinous symptoms. Twenty seven students among the those who had previous symptoms(21.9%) reported the present symptoms. 2. The experience rates of musculotendinous problems in keyboard players, string players and woodwind players were 50.3%, 48.2%, 33.3% respectively. 3. Most of the students practiced most intensively during their high school years and the musculotendinous symptoms began at the same period. 4. Pain, tenderness and stiffness were the most common symptoms, while paresthesia and motor dysfunction were rare. This indicates that most players had muscle tendinous overuse, while small number had nerve entrapment and motor dysfunction. 5. In past and present symptoms, string players experienced musculotendinous symptoms mainly in both sides of shoulders, lumbar area, left finger, and left wrist, while keyboard players experienced more symptoms in the right wrist, shoulder, fingers than left side. 6. The major contributing factors to the symptoms were weight of instrument, types of instruments, types of daily activities, duration of practice, and playing technique. 7 The most frequent treatment modalities for the symptoms were acupuncture or moxibustion, other alternative therapy such as heat compress and massage. Through this study it was found that the musculotendinous problems might be increased along with their career, due to lack of knowledge about preventive measures and patterns of health behavior seeking alternative modalities rather than professional consultation. Therefore, preventive measures that focus on playing habits such as duration of practice, frequency of rest and position while playing should be developed and taught to the students, their parents, and music educators. Doctors who are interested in this area should attempt to correct the position and posture while playing of the posture. And measures for reduction of loading of instrument weight should also be developed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2009

The effect of diet supplemented with red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf on antioxidant status of plasma and tissue was investigated in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were randomly divided into two groups after one-week acclimation, and fed a high fat (20%) and high cholesterol (1%) diet without (control group) or with 8% freeze-dried red beet leaf (RBL group) for 4 weeks. In RBL mice, lipid peroxidation determined as 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS value) was significantly reduced in the plasma and selected organs (liver, heart, and kidney). Levels of antioxidants (glutathione and $\beta$-carotene) and the activities of antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) in plasma and liver were considerably increased, suggesting that antioxidant defenses were improved by RBL diet. Comet parameters such as tail DNA (%), tail extent moment, olive tail moment and tail length were significantly reduced by 25.1%, 49.4%, 35.4%, and 23.7%, respectively, in plasma lymphocyte DNA of RBL mice compared with control mice, and indicated the increased resistance of lymphocyte DNA to oxidative damage. In addition, the RBL diet controlled body weight together with a significant reduction of fat pad (retroperitoneal, epididymal, inguinal fat, and total fat). Therefore, the present study suggested that the supplementation of 8% red beet leaf in high fat high cholesterol diet could prevent lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant defense system in the plasma and tissue of C57BL/6J mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.457-464
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• 2017

Etoricoxib features antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties concomitantly, suggesting that it may be beneficial in testicular ischemia reperfusion (I/R) damage. Our aim is to investigate the effects of etoricoxib on testicular I/R damage induced with torsion-detorsion (TD). The etoricoxib + torsion-detorsion (ETD) groups of animals were given etoricoxib in 50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight (ETD-50 and ETD-100), while the testes torsion-detorsion (TTD) and sham operation rat group (SOG) animals were given single oral doses of distilled water as a solvent. TTD, ETD-50 and ETD-100 groups were subjected to $720^{\circ}$ degrees torsion for four hours, and detorsion for four hours. The SOG group was not subjected to this procedure. Biochemical, gene expression and histopathological analyses were carried out on the testicular tissues. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were significantly higher, and the levels of total glutathione (tGSH) and glutathione reductase (GSHRd) were significantly lower in the TTD group, compared to the ETD-50, ETD-100 and SOG groups. Etoricoxib at a dose of 100 mg/kg better prevented I/R damage than the 50 mg/kg dose. Etoricoxib may be useful in clinical practice in the reduction of I/R damage on testes caused by torsion-detorsion.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1529-1533
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of applying alum (aluminum sulfate) and aluminum chloride on pH and pathogen populations of Hanwoo manure. A total of 36 steers (8 months old and averaging 300 kg in weight) were used in this trial and allotted to 9 pens (3 replication pens per group with 4 steers per experimental unit, $5{\times}8$ m). Chemical additives were applied as a top dressing with garden rake to a depth of 1 cm of manure with wood shavings in each treatment. The chemical amendments were control (without chemical amendments), 50 g of alum and 50 g of aluminum chloride/kg of Hanwoo manure. The experiment was carried out for 4 weeks. Adding alum and aluminum chloride to Hanwoo manure reduced (P < 0.05) pH compared to untreated controls during the 4-wk period. Both levels of the alum and aluminum chloride treatments tested decreased (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica populations in Hanwoo manure at 2 and 4 weeks. It appears that the reduction in pathogen populations was primarily associated with the lower manure pH. If more strict environmental regulations are put into effect regarding pathogen populations from Hanwoo facilities, treating Hanwoo manure with alum and aluminum chloride may be a good management practice.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.208-213
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• 2009

The achievement of maximal peak bone mineral density (BMD) in early life is one of the most important strategies for the prevention of osteoporosis, which is affected by nutritional status. However, it has been reported that young Korean women do not consume the optimal levels of nutrients because of the frequent practice of body weight reduction. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between nutrient intakes and BMD in young Korean women. Bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Information on health status, lifestyle and physical activity was obtained by questionnaire. Dietary intake was ascertained from a 3-day dietary record. The study sample included 112 Korean women aged 20$\sim$39 yr. In accordance with the energy intake of subjects, individuals who had an energy intake that was greater than 80% of the Korean Dietary Reference Intake (KDRI) were assigned to the control group (Control), while those who had an energy intake lower than 80% of the KDRI were assigned to the low intake group (LI). The intake of all nutrients in the LI group was significantly lower than that of the Control. Control subjects also showed nutrient intakes higher than the KDRI, except for Ca and folate. However, LI subjects showed intakes of energy, fiber, Ca, Fe, K, Zn, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and folate that were lower than the KDRI. The BMD of the lumbar spine in LI subjects was significantly lower than that of the Control subjects. These results suggested that lower nutrient intake has a negative impact on BMD in young women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2008

Objectives: This study adopted a qualitative method to explore the layman's beliefs and experience concerning high blood pressure and its management in order to develop a strategy to increase adherence to proper medical treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews that focused on personal experiences with hypertension and its management were conducted with 26 hypertensive patients. The participants were selected according to a BP above 140/90 mmHg (hypertension stage 1), based on the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC-VII). The interviews lasted for approximately 30 minutes (range: 20-60 minutes). The resulting questions were formulated into open-ended questions. The interview questionnaire was composed 17 items to examine non-adherence to treatment and 19 items to examine adherence to treatment. Results: Most participants recognized that the direct cause of high blood pressure was unhealthy behavior rather than inheritance. Thus, the hypertensive patient believed they could recover their blood pressure to a normal level through removing the direct cause of hypertension (weight reduction, diet, exercise) instead of taking drugs. The reasons for these statements were that the drugs for controlling hypertension are not natural or they are artificial, and they may have side effects, and drugs are not treatment for the root cause of hypertension. Most of the hypertensive patients chose to manage their behaviors as soon as they knew their blood pressure was high. Therefore, we should not divide the subjects into two groups according to their taking drugs or not, but they should be divided into two groups according to their willingness or not to manage their condition. Conclusions: For developing a strategy for an individual approach to hypertension management, we need to develop a client-centered attitude and strategy. That is, we need to tailor our approach to individual cases to avoid generalizations and stereotyping when developing an adherence increasing strategy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.306-313
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• 2012

We have published a paper which is on stress and dietary life for college students considering weight, height, BMI by the sex of them. It was on obesity index, stress durability and stress strength, meal intake by stress, stress reduction and stress relief for the sample students. In this paper, we monitored taste changing of their favorite food under stresses, feeling after food intake for stress relief, score of stress with life style, strength of stress correlated with characteristic and BMI. The students preferred hot and sweet taste on their stress. However there is no difference feeling their stress after taking food for stress relief by ages, major area and monthly expenses. The stress is more severe for them according to do not sleeping and health status. The stress is not affected by exercising, smoking, drinking alcohols, healthcare mind in their life. The impetuous students get more stress easily but the stress is not affected on BMI. As a result, we need to provide them a nutrition education program that guide the students to improve their dietary life style and practice of their life attitude.