• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.551-560
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• 2010

The study aim was to investigate the effects of three types of mulberry products on the blood glucose and lipid statuses and peroxidative state under diabetic condition. The three types were mulberry liquor prepared by adding 30% ethanol to the crushed fresh fruit, mulberry wine and vinegar by fermentation. For diet experiment the mulberry liquor (M-Liquor), wine (M-Wine), and vinegar (M-Vinegar) were prepared as powders by freeze-drying of the respective product and were added to the diet at the level of 1% and mulberry fruit powder (M-Powder) at the level of 5%. Sprague- Dawley female rats weighing $150{\pm}10\;g$ were randomly assigned to one normal group, and five diabetic groups induced by one intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at the level of 50 mg/kg. The normal and diabetic control (DM-Control) groups were fed diet without the mulberry products. During twenty-one days of experimental diet, blood glucose was maintained at a low level in the M-Liquor group compared with the DM-Control group. However, serum insulin level was higher in both M-Liquor and M-Vinegar groups after the experimental diet period. Serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) were lower in M-Liquor but HDL-/total cholesterol ratios were higher in the four M groups. The TG liver level was lower in M-Powder and M-Vinegar groups but the cholesterol level was lower in M-Powder than in the DM-Control group. Serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were not different among the groups but the liver levels of these substances were lower in the four M groups than in DM-Control. Serum GOT and GPT levels were not changed by the mulberry products. These results indicated that mulberry liquor is the most effective among the four mulberry products for normalizing blood glucose and lipid status and that all the mulberry products were effective in enhancing antioxidant defense in the diabetic state.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.701-710
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• 2008

The wild simulated ginseng (WSG) has been effectively used in folk medicine as a remedy against hepatic disease, hypertension and arthritic disease. However, there is still lack of scientific proof about its antioxidant capability. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the protective role of the WSG ethanol extract in the CCl4-induced oxidative stress and resultant hepatic disfunction in ICR mice. The electron donating abilities and IC50 of WSG etnanol extract were 76.86 ${\pm}$ 1.06% and 33.3 ${\mu}g$/mL (that of ascobic acid was 16.5 ${\mu}g$/mL), respectively. Total antioxidant status of WSG extract was 2.13 ${\pm}$ 0.06 mmoL/mg, while the values of ascorbic acid and BHT were 3.63 ${\pm}$ 0.06 and 3.12 ${\pm}$ 0.02, respectively. ICR mice (aged 3weeks) were fed for 4 weeks on AIN-93M diet and had free access to food and water. The animals were divided into three groups: normal group (intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with PBS at 100 ${\mu}L$/mouse), group C; CCl4-induced and without any treatment. (i.p injected only PBS, 100 ${\mu}L$ /mice), group G; CCl4-induced and treated with WSG (i.p injected with 5 mg WSG extract per mouse, suspended in 100 ${\mu}L$ phosphate buffer). After the i.p. injection of WSG or PBS (5 times for 7weeks), all mice were administered CCl4 in olive oil at the last day of the experiment, except for normal group. The normal group was administered only olive oil. Determination of plasma triglyceride, total cholersterol, fasting glucose and GPT activity was performed using automatic blood analyzer. To evaluate the protective effect against the oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation and TBARS were determined in blood leucocytes and RBC and hepatocyte, respectively. Body and organs weights and food intake did not show significant differences among the groups. Blood total cholesterol of group G was similar to that of normal group, which was the lowest in group C. The fasting blood glucose level was the highest in normal group (205.20 ${\pm}$ 135.24), which were decreased in group C (134.2 ${\pm}$ 79.31) and group G (126.48 ${\pm}$ 77.05). TBARS values in a red blood cell and hepatic tisuue homogenate were lower in group G comparing to the group C. DNA% in tail, tail length (TL) and tail moment (TM) of blood leucoocytes showed the highest values in group C (20.11 ${\pm}$ 2.47, 17.36 ${\pm}$ 2.58, 94.11 ${\pm}$ 12.29) and they were significantly diminished in group G (9.63 ${\pm}$ 1.19, 7.04 ${\pm}$ 1.50, 38.64 ${\pm}$ 7.60). In conclusion, wild simulated ginseng might be a protective agent against the oxidative stress.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2001

Purpose: Adenovirus infection with swollen Peyer patches in the ileum, known as one of the causes of intussusception, may cause vitamin C depletion in human body because vitamin C is a first line antioxidant. Or low vitamin C status in human body makes the man more susceptible to infection of adenovirus in the ileum with a markedly swollen lymph node. In this study, we tried to find out the relationship between pediatric intussusceptions and vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma. Methods: Whole blood and plasma vitamin C concentrations of fifty-seven patients with intussusceptions from May 1995 to December 1998 at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital were compared with those of 256 normal healthy children. Vitamin C was measured by the 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine methods. Results: The average age of patients (male=39, female=18) with intussusceptions was fifteen months of age. Whole blood vitamin C concentrations of patients and healthy children were $1.49{\pm}0.64$ mg/dL, and $2.18{\pm}0.49$ mg/dL, respectively. Plasma vitamin C concentrations of patients and healthy children were $0.59{\pm}0.36$ mg/dL, $1.47{\pm}0.56$ mg/dL, respectively. But no differences in the vitamin C concentrations of whole blood and plasma according to age, degree of leukocytosis, fever, interval from onset, hematochezia, and need for operation were found. Conclusion: Whole blood and plasma vitamin C concentrations of patients with intussusceptions were lower than those of healthy children (P=0.0001). Prospective studies are needed to elucidate whether these results were consequences or causes of intussusceptions.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage biosynthesizes various phytochemicals including carotenoids and glucosinolates. Environmental stress has a major effect on the growth and yields of vegetables, and can significantly affect nutritionally important phytochemicals. Phytochemicals of plants are influenced by light, temperature, carbon dioxide, and growing conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various light sources on carotenoid and glucosinolate contents in Chinese cabbage. METHODS AND RESULTS: [Experiment I] Set the control (field control, FC) on the ground. Using acrylic sunlight, experiments were set up transparency box (field transparency, FT), red box (field red, FR) and blue box (field blue, FB). [Experiment II] Set the control (chamber control, CC) in the greenhouse. Using plant growth chamber with artificial light, experiments were set up LED red (chamber red, CR), LED blue (chamber blue, CB), LED mixed red+blue (chamber red+blue, CRB) and fluorescent (chamber fluorescent, CF). After plant growth, Chinese cabbage was harvested at 110 days after sowing (DAS). The status of plants growth (leaf length, width, fresh weight etc.) was immediately investigated. Carotenoid and GSL contents were analyzed by HPLC. [Experiment I] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 25.39 ~ 58.80 mg/kg dry wt for lutein, 0.84~ 4.22 mg/kg dry wt for zeaxanthin, and 3.85~18.71 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. Lutein was the highest for the content and the largest for the variation as well. [Experiment II] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 24.66~137.96 for lutein, 2.51~20.65 for zeaxanthin, and 8.40~49.80 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. The total carotenoid contents of CR (156.62) and CB (115.90) were 1.6~2.3 times larger than the other treatments, and ${\beta}$-carotene content was about twice as high as that of the other treatments on the CR (38.74 mg/kg dry wt.). [Experiment I] Total GSL content was the highest in FT (19.76) that was higher 1.7 times than the lowest treatment ($11.39{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). [Experiment II] The total content of GSL was highest in CRB (4.19) and lowest in CF ($2.88{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). In the CRB, total GSL contents ($4.19{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.) was the highest. CONCLUSION: Total and individual carotenoid and GSL contents in Chinese cabbage show significant differences under different light sources. Red and blue lights contribute to significant carotenoids expression and antioxidant activity for nutrition and health benefits. These results concluded that the introduction of varying lights affected the synthesis of important nutrient compounds in Chinese cabbage. It is predicted that the application of good light source enhances the accumulation of functional compounds.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Purpose: Serum vitamin C is one of the indicators for antioxidant levels in the body and it is lower in cancer patients compared with the healthy population. However, there have been few studies on the levels of serum vitamin C in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. Methods: We followed 65 terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized in two palliative care units. We collected data of age, sex, cancer type, functional status, clinical symptoms, history of cancer therapy, and various laboratory findings including serum vitamin C level. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the quartile of serum vitamin C level (Q1-3 vs. Q4), which were compared each other. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to serum vitamin C levels. Results: The mean serum vitamin C level was $0.44{\mu}g/mL$, and all patients fell into the category of vitamin C deficiency. Univariate analysis showed that The serum vitamin C level was lower in non-lung cancer patients (P=0.041) and febrile patients (P=0.034). Multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders such as lung cancer, fever, dysphagia, dyspnea, C reactive protein, and history of chemotherapy demonstrated that odds for low serum vitamin C level was 3.7 for patients receiving chemotherapy (P=0.046) and 7.22 for febrile patients (P=0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin C deficiency was very severe in terminally ill cancer patients, and it was associated with history of chemotherapy and fever.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous extracts from Tremella fuciformis Berk(Tf AE) against stress during long-term and short-term in ICR mice. All the animals were randomly divided into two groups which had been bred for 5 months that were treated by immobilization stress for 8 weeks (total 7 months breeding, equivalent to human beings aged 20) with or without Tf AE, and one out of two groups was continuously bred until they become 18 months old (equivalent to human beings aged 60) without Tf AE. Afterwards, the changes of serum and hepatic metabolites were investigated on the basis of the index of stress-related in vivo oxidative damage. As a result, it was found that stress increases serum triglyceride (TG) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and decreases serum HDL-cholesterol in the long-term (total 18 months breeding) and short-term (total 7 months breeding). In addition, stress concerned the decrease of total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. On the other hand, Tf AE-fed groups reversed all these biochemical indices. These results suggest that stress in one's youth causes negative results in TG, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, AST, TAS, SOD and MDA measured in one's senescent. The administration of Tf AE in the stressed mice decreases serum TG and AST that are increased by stress, and exerts influence on the increase of serum HDL-cholesterol. Also Tf AE recovered the values of liver TAS, SOD and MDA in the stressed mice. In conclusion, Tf AE represented protective effect in the stressed mice to some degree.