• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2008

This study was carried out to determine whether a short-tenn zinc supplementation contributes to beneficial changes in glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients. Seventy-six diabetic subjects and 72 normal adults participated in this study. Subjects were divided into supplemented and control groups. Forty-four diabetic patients and 34 normal subjects were supplemented with 50 mg zinc daily as zinc gluconate for 4 weeks. Zinc status was assessed from fasting plasma levels and urinary excretion. The effects of zinc supplementation on fasting blood glucose, $HbA_{1c}$, insulin, and C-peptide were measured at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks of supplementation. The changes in glycemic control indicators were compared between diabetic groups, classified by baseline $HbA_{1c}$ levels, and by diabetic duration. At baseline, the incidence of marginal zinc deficiency in the diabetic group, as determined by plasma zinc level, was approximately twice as high as in the normal adult group. The changes of $HbA_{1c}$ concentration, and fasting blood glucose following supplementation were not statistically significant in diabetic subjects. In normal subjects, a significant decrease of $HbA_{1c}$ occurred only in the zinc supplemented group. No significant changes were observed for serum insulin and C-peptide in diabetic as well as normal subjects. However, when the changes were compared by baseline $HbA_{1c}$ level, we found that diabetic subjects with $HbA_{1c}\;{\geq}\;7.5%$ showed significantly improved levels of $HbA_{1c}$ and fasting glucose after Zn supplementation. While such improvement in fasting blood glucose was significant among diabetics with shorter diabetic duration, significant levels of increase in serum insulin and C-peptide were observed in zinc supplemented subjects with longer diabetic duration. Fasting blood glucose was significantly decreased, whereas serum insulin and C-peptide were increased in diabetics with marginal zinc status. Therefore, we suggest that Zn supplementation for a short-term period may improve glycemic control in diabetic patients with higher $HbA_{1c}$ levels and marginal zinc status.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2022

Background: Zinc homeostasis is essential for human health and is regulated by several zinc transporters including ZIP and ZnT. ZIP4 is expressed in the small intestine and is important for zinc absorption from the diet. We investigated in the present study the effects of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) extract on modulating Zip4 expression and cellular zinc levels in mouse Hepa cells. Methods: Hepa cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid that contains metal-responsive elements, incubated with P. ginseng extract, and luciferase activity was measured. Using ⁶⁵ZnCl₂, zinc uptake in P. ginseng-treated cells was measured. The expression of Zip4 mRNA and protein in Hepa cells was also investigated. Finally, using a luciferase reporter assay system, the effects of several ginsenosides were monitored. Results: The luciferase activity in cells incubated with P. ginseng extract was significantly higher than that of control cells cultured in normal medium. Hepa cells treated with P. ginseng extract exhibited higher zinc uptake. P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 mRNA expression, which resulted in an enhancement of Zip4 protein expression. Furthermore, some ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside Rc and Re, enhanced luciferase activity driven by intracellular zinc levels. Conclusion: P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 expression at the mRNA and protein level and resulted in higher zinc uptake in Hepa cells. Some ginsenosides facilitated zinc influx. On the basis of these results, we suggest a novel effect of P. ginseng on Zip4-mediated zinc influx, which may provide a new strategy for preventing zinc deficiency.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.301-307
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• 2018

In this research work, synthesis of sugarcane bagasse/zinc aluminium biocomposite and apple peel/zinc aluminium biocomposite and their application for removal of Reactive Red-241 and Acid Orange-7, respectively, was studied using various parameters. At pH 2 the sorption was the highest for both dyes. The trend showed that the dye sorption declined by decreasing the biocomposite dose and enhanced by increasing the dye concentration and temperature. Equilibrium was achieved at 60 minutes for Reactive Red-241 onto sugarcane bagasse/zinc aluminium biocomposite and 90 minutes for Acid Orange-7 onto apple peel/zinc aluminium biocomposite.The research data was good fitted to pseudo-2nd-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. FT-IR analysis was used to confirm the biosorption of the selected dyes at the surface of biosorbent through various binding sites. Surface morphology modification of both biocomposites before and after biosorption was inspected through SEM. Crystallinity of biocomposite was examined through XRD analysis. It was implied that sugarcane bagasse/ zinc aluminium biocomposite and apple peel/ zinc aluminium biocomposite are good adsorbents for dyes elimination from aqueous solutions.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 1999

in the present study, the zinc toxicity to larval development and seed attachment of the abalone, Haliotis discus hannai was obtained under continuous flow through system. The zinc concentration melted from zinc coating pipe for 7 months ranged from $89.00\pm2.55 \mu\textrm{g}/\ell to 15.23\pm2.58\mu\textrm{g}/\ell(Y=0.85M^2-19.71+109.96)$. Treatments were carried out with zinc concentration $0~160 \mu\textrm{g}/\ell$. The maximum and minimum of fertilization rate were $87.7\pm5.3%$ in control, $83.7\pm7.6%$ in zinc concentration $160\mu\textrm{g}/\ell$, respectively. The maximum and minimum of hatching rate were $87.5\pm4.5%$ in zinc concentration $10\mu\textrm{g}/\ell$, $79.3\pm5.6%$ in zinc concentration $160\mu\textrm{g}/\ell$, respectively. Both of the results were not significantly different (P>0.05). But the normality rate, setting rate and survival rate of abalone larvae at over zinc concentration TEX>$20\mu\textrm{g}/\ell$ decreased rapidly and showed significantly different from those of the other group(P<0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary zinc on the carbohydrate metabolism and the serum content of magnesium and chromium in rats fed normal diet. Animals were divided into three groups by different dietary zinc levels which were low(15ppm), normal(30ppm) or high(60ppm). Serum glucose and Insulin concentrations were assessed by the glucose method and the radio immuno assay respectively. Serum zinc. magnesium and chromium contents were measured by Indectively Coupled Plasma(ICP). Results of the study were as follows : 1. Feed intake in a zinc deficiency group was significantly higher than that in other group, but the weight gain in high zinc diet group was significantly lower than in other groups. 2. There were no significant differences in liver, kidney and spleen weight. 3. Serum glucose, insulin and zinc concentrations were not significantly different among different dietary zinc groups, However serum magnesium and chromium concentrations were significantly decreased as the level of dietary zinc was increased.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.1 s.19
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• pp.76-84
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• 1986

Analyses of lead and zinc were made by means of standard addition method using atomic absorption spectrophotometer(Baird Ltd., Model A5100) with flameless method for lead and flame method for zinc. The blood samples used were merely diluted with triton x-100, because it was simple, rapid and minimal risk of contamination. Mean recovery rate for lead added to the blood ranged from 97.7 to 101.3% with coefficient of variation ranging from 1.9 to 10.7%, and that for the added zinc ranged from 99.0 to 102.2% with coefficient of variation ranging from 2.1 to 9.1%. In repeated measurements of zinc in the blood, good reproducibility and interindividual variation were proved(p<0.01). In comparison of the lead and zinc concentrations in the blood determined by the standard addition method and standard method, there were good correlations between 2 sets of data (r=0.9731 for lead and r=0.9785 for zinc), although lead levels were estimated higher by the former method(p<0.01) and zinc levels by the latter method(p<0.01). It can be concluded that lead and zinc levels in blood standard addition method is reliable for determination of lead and zinc in the blood with good accuracy and reproducibility.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 1988

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary zinc on immune response in mice. Weanling male mice was placed individually in stainless steel cages and fed a zinc dificient diet and control diet. All mice were given deionized water ad libitum. The introduction of extraneous zinc was minimized in all cage by washing feed jars and water bottles sequentially with 4mM EDTA and conc-nitiric acid followed by deionized water. After 4 and 5 weeks of the diets, mice were immunized with lx 106 Naegleria fowleri intraperitoneally. Mice were weighed once a week. The results from this study are summarized as followed ; 1) Mice fed the zinc dificient diet showed growth retardation. After 3 weeks of diets, mean body weight of zinc deficient mice was 21.4g and that of control was 25.0g. This difference is singnificant statistically (p<0.01). The more time passed, the more remarkable difference was found. 2) The weigth of organs were measured on liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, heart, lung, brain. Difference in weight were observed only in liver and spleen. 3) Proliferative response of spleen cells of zinc deficient mice to con A was lower than that of control mice after one week on immunization(p<0.005). 4) Stimulation index was lower in zinc deficient mice to phytohemagglutinin after two weeks on immunization (p<0.05). 5) Blastogenesis of speen cells of zinc deficient mice to Naegleria fowleric lysate was lower after 10 days on immunization (p<0.05). 6) Immunoglobulin G antribody titers of zinc deficient mice sera by ELISA was lowered to control mice after 5 weeks on immunization (p<0.005).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.335-341
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• 2021

Zinc is an essential micronutrient with crucial roles in multiple facets of biological processes. Dysregulated zinc homeostasis impairs overall immune function and resultantly increases susceptibility to infection. Clinically, zinc supplementation is practiced for treatment of several infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and malaria. Recent focus on zinc as a beneficial element for immune system support has resulted in investigation of the immunomodulatory roles of zinc in a variety of immune cells. Besides its classical role as a cofactor that regulates the structural function of thousands of proteins, accumulating evidence suggests that zinc also acts, in a manner similar to calcium, as an ionic regulator of immune responses via participation as an intracellular messenger in signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on the role of zinc as a signaling molecule in major pathways such as those downstream of Toll-like receptors-, T cell receptor-, and cytokine-mediated signal transduction that regulate the activity and function of monocytes/macrophages and T cells, principal players in the innate and adaptive immune systems.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.709-714
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• 2020

For zinc-air batteries, there are several limitations associated with zinc anodes. The self-discharge behavior of zinc-air batteries is a critical issue that is induced by corrosion reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of zinc anodes. Aluminum and indium are effective additives for controlling the hydrogen evolution reaction as well as the corrosion reaction. To enhance the electrochemical performances of zinc-air batteries, mechanically alloyed Zn-Al and Zn-In materials with different compositions are successfully fabricated at 500rpm and 5h milling time. Investigated materials are characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Alloys are investigated for the application as novel anodes in zinc-air batteries. Especially, the material with 3 wt% of indium (ZI3) delivers 445.37 mAh/g and 408.52 mAh/g of specific discharge capacity with 1 h and 6 h storage, respectively. Also, it shows 91.72 % capacity retention and has the lowest value of corrosion current density among attempted materials.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2020

Zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)2·6H2O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were dissolved in distilled water and stirred for 30 min. The resulting solution was sonicated by an ultrasonic wave for 45 min. This solution was washed with distilled water and ethanol after centrifugation; next, it was placed in an electric furnace at 200℃ for 1 h under the flow of Ar gas to obtain zinc oxide nanoparticle. A zinc oxide nanoparticle-(C60) fullerene nanowhisker composite was synthesized using the zinc oxide nanoparticle solution, C60-saturated toluene, and isopropyl alcohol via the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method. The zinc oxide nanoparticle and zinc oxide nanoparticle-(C60) fullerene nanowhisker composite were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, and they were used for the catalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet (at 254 and 365 nm) and ultrasonic irradiation. In addition, the catalytic degradation of MO over the zinc oxide nanoparticle and zinc oxide nanoparticle-(C60) fullerene nanowhisker composite was evaluated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy.