• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.152-164
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• 2019

In this study, a Benthic Macroinvertebrates Family Index (BMFI) was developed using 100 indicator groups (99 families including Chironomidae with 2 phena). Families were assigned a score between 1 and 10 depending on their sensitivity to organic pollution. The BMFI was composed of the sensitivity and relative abundance of the indicator taxa. Sensitivity values of each group were generally similar to Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) scores or Walley, Hawkes, Paisley, Trigg (WHPT) scores of UK, Japanese BMWP scores, and the FBI tolerance values of North America. However, sensitivity values of some taxa were significantly different from those of foreign countries, which seemed to have resulted from discrepancy in species composition, difference of taxonomic classification system, or methodological difference for estimation of sensitivity. As an annual average level, BMFI showed significant correlation with concentration of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (correlation coefficient r = -0.80, n = 569 sites), total suspended solids (r = -0.68), and total phosphorus (r = -0.79). In addition, BMFI revealed strong correlation with Shannon-Weaver's species diversity (r = 0.85), Margalef's species richness (r = 0.85) and McNaughton's dominance (r = -0.84). Correlation between BMFI and water quality parameters or community indices such as species diversity did not show significant difference compared to that of species-level indices such as BMI (Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index). This means that BMFI is a more useful indicator in terms of easy identification of organisms. BMFI was used to assess the environmental status of 3,017 sites of Stream Ecosystem Survey conducted by the Korean Ministry of Environment between 2016 and 2018. As a result, about half of all sites appeared to be in good condition, and a quarter in poor condition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to establish the selection of indicators for estimating and factors affecting the requirement of vitamin B6. There has been a need to establish the human requirements of vitamin $B_6$ since vitamin $B_6$ is thought to be involved in more than one hundred biochemical reactions as a coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids, glucose, and lipid, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For the review of the literature, this study included from early findings of the sixties to studies of 2009. This study suggests that plasma pyridoxal 5' phosphate (PLP) is the best single indicator of vitamin $B_6$ status for the healthy but not for the non-healthy. Erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activation by PLP as an indirect measure and urinary 4-pyridoxic acid excretion as a direct measure are useful as supporting indicators. Bioavailability, nutrient interaction, physiological need, and chronic diseases may increase the requirement for vitamin $B_6$. However, these effects can not be quantified due to insufficient evidences.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.715-722
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• 1996

To determine relationships of biochemical parameters involved in Ca metabolism with eggshell quality, serum Ca level, duodenal and uterine calcium binding protein (CaBP) and uterine carbonic anhydrase (CA) activities were measured using 102-week old hens. Three groups of chickens were selected, those showing high quality (HQ) and low quality (LQ) eggshells and non-laying activity (NE). NE hens exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower serum Ca levels than laying hens. HQ and LQ hens were not different in the Ca level, indicating that serum Ca level was not good indicator of hen's ability to produce different quality eggshells. Duodenal CaBPs was highest in HQ and lowest in NE (p < 0.10). Uterine CaBPs of LQ and NE were not different and lower significantly (p<0.10) than that of HQ, suggesting that CaBP played an important role in determining eggshell quality. Uterine CA activities of the three groups were significantly different (p < 0.01) ; highest in HQ and lowest in NE, suggesting intimate relationship between CA and Eggshell quality.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.406-412
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• 2012

The polymorphism (insertion, I or deletion, D) of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene is designated as the presence of a 287 bp Alu repeat. The D/D homozygote carrier is associated with high ACE activity, and this high activity has been implicated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, or diabetic nephropathy. We studied the clinical candidate marker in ACE gene polymorphism using chemical and hematological analysis. The subjects are divided into normotensive and hypertensive groups and ACE genotype in the group was confirmed by PCR method. Chemical analysis was preceded with Hitachi7060, and hematological analysis was performed using Mythic 22. In 116 targeted people, 17 (38.64%) of 44 I/I genotype group are hypertension, 15 (34.09%) in 44 with D/I, but, D/D type in the 28 cases is 15 patients (53.57%) in hypertension. In hypertension group, biochemical analysis (triglyceride, and alkaline phosphatase) and hematological analysis (white blood cell, platelet) are showed high value in D/D genotype of ACE gene. The relationship between hypertension and ACE genotype is the same results as previously reported and we thought that the high laboratory value of white blood cell, platelet, triglycerides, and alkaline phosphatase are also indicator of hypertension in D/D type of ACE.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.139-150
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• 2002

OBJECTIVES : Schizandra chinensis is well known for its efficacy at liver function reinforcement, relieving thirst and recovery from fatigue. In this study, we examined the effects of sports drink containing Schizandra chinensis on serum metabolic substrate, electrolyte, stress indicators, related-enzyme and exercise performance, rectal temperature, and heat shock proteinb70 (HSP70). METHODS : Elite long-distance runners (male, 21.3yrs, n=16) were selected and divided into two groups; an experimental group (EXP, n=8) and a control group (CON, n=8). A beverage containing Schizandra chinensis was supplemented 3 times per day to EXP for 4 weeks. Serum biochemical elements (glucose, lactate, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, Na, K, Cl) were analyzed by auto blood analyzer. Exercise performance was measured by treadmill exercise test, HSP70 was detected by electrophoresis and Western blotting, and rectal temperature was measured by rectal temperature probe. RESULTS : Administration of the beverage increased significantly the rest level of blood Na, Cl and glucose and decreased significantly lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase. No difference was found in exercise performance, rectal temperature increment or HSP70 concentration between groups. CONCLUSIONS : Administration of a sports drink containing Schizandra chinensis altered blood glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, Na and Cl levels.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2012

Hematological analysis can provide crucial information for monitoring the health of fish. However, there is no current information available regarding hematological changes in olive flounder following infection by Vibrio scophthalmi. In this study, hematological and biochemical alterations were determined in olive flounder infected by the high virulence strain (HVS) and low virulence strain (LVS) of V. scophthalmi. Survival in serum, skin mucus, and macrophages of olive flounder was also compared between the HVS and LVS. The results demonstrated that the hematocrit value in infected fish declined from 23.4% at 0 h to 18.0% at 168 h post infection. The total protein concentration in fish infected with the HVS was significantly higher than in fish infected with the LVS and a non-infected control. Lysozyme activity was significantly different between infected and control fish. The HVS survived in serum and cell numbers increased substantially, while cell numbers of the LVS in serum decreased. These changes in hematological characteristics in fish infected by V. scophthalmi can be used as an effective and sensitive index to monitor the physiological and pathological conditions of fish. The survival and reproduction of V. scophthalmi in host serum, skin mucus, and macrophages play a major role in systemic infection and can serve as a virulence indicator for different strains.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009

Microbial and related biochemical mass of composts are important for optimization of its process and end-products. This study was carried out to assess the specific microbial and related biochemical mass which could be used as an indicator for compost maturity during composting stages. The samples from five compost plants were collected at three stages (Initial, Thermophilic and Mature) and analyzed for total aerobic bacteria (TAB), Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Actinomycetes and fungi. Significantly, the coliforms and E.coli counts decreased during the thermophilic stage and were completely eliminated during mature stage. However, the other microbial mass were completely eliminated during mature stage. Which disclosed that Coliforms and E.coli communities can be used as compost maturity indicator. Interestingly, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen ratio (MBC/MBN) were decreased a little during the thermophilic stage due to the decreasing number of coliforms, Ecoli and fungi, while the ratio increased during the mature stage due to increasing fungal and aerobic bacterial counts. In addition the heavy metals were shown strong negative correlation with Actenomycetes. This study provides insight to the evaluation of compost maturity as well as the quality by the metal-microbial interactions.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2010

Efforts to evaluate water pollution using indicator microorganisms have been underway for decades, and driven by research on water purity control applications, water quality criteria are growing more and more strict. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that high concentrations of antibiotics are not absorbed, and are present in excrement from animals and humans dosed with unnecessarily high levels of antibiotics. This has emerged as very important issue from the standpoint of being an ecological and health hazard. In this study, water pollution was analyzed through physicochemical and microbiological means, and antibiotic resistance in indicator microorganisms was assessed. In physicochemical analysis, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)$_5$ and chemical oxygen demand (COD)$_{Mn}$ evaluation showed that pollution by organisms was highest at the G1 location with a high human population, and the DP location which has many livestock-containing households. The indicator organism levels at the G1 location were: Total Coliforms (1205 colony forming units (CFU)/100 ml), Fecal Coliforms (270 CFU/100 ml), Escherichia coli (253 CFU/100 ml) and Fecal Streptococci (210 CFU/100 ml), while for the DP location levels were: Total Coliforms (1480 CFU/100 ml), Fecal Coliforms (438 CFU/100 ml), E. coli (560 CFU/100 ml), and Fecal Streptococci (348 CFU/100 ml). Levels of fecal indicator microorganisms such as Fecal Coliforms, E. coli and Fecal Streptococci were high at all locations in the fall (the period after the rainy season), and the yearly distribution was similar between these organisms. If the number of livestock-containing households was high, almost all strains of E. coli (as distinct from the other indicator organisms) showed resistance to antibiotics, with the degree of resistance varying between areas. E. coli strains from the OY area in particular, which has a high population density, showed strong resistance to AM10 and Va30. While strong antibiotic resistance was observed overall at the DP and OY locations, no resistance was observed at the EB location.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.353-360
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• 2012

Mastitis is a highly morbid disease that requires detection at the subclinical stage. Tropical countries like India mainly depend on milch buffaloes for milk. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the trace minerals viz. copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) and enzyme activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in riverine buffalo milk can be used as an indicator of subclinical mastitis (SCM) with the aim of developing suitable diagnostic kit for SCM. Trace elements and enzyme activity in milk were estimated with Atomic absorption Spectrophotometer, GBC 932 plus and biochemical methods, respectively. Somatic cell count (SCC) was done microscopically. The cultural examination revealed Gram positive bacteria as the most prevalent etiological agent. A statistically significant (p<0.01) increase in SCC, Fe, Zn, Co and LDH occurred in SCM milk containing gram positive bacterial agents only. ALP was found to be elevated in milk infected by both gram positive and negative bacteria. The percent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated taking bacterial culture examination and $SCC\geq2{\times}10^5$ cells/ml of milk as the benchmark. Only ALP and Zn, the former being superior, were found to be suitable for diagnosis of SCM irrespective of etiological agents. LDH, Co and Fe can be introduced in the screening programs where Gram positive bacteria are omnipresent. It is recommended that both ALP and Zn be measured together in milk to diagnose buffalo SCM, irrespective of etiology.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.514-536
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• 2018

GPI (Group Pollution Index) using 29 indicator groups of Korean benthic macroinvertebrates was proposed in 1992, a higher category taxa-level index developed for rapid field assessment of organic water pollution. This study was performed to revise the assessment scheme of GPI based on taxonomic performance and ecological information accumulated since 1992. The original GPI was renamed SBMI (Simple Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index), and SBMI was based on saprobic valency of 26 indicator groups composed of higher category taxa (mainly family ~ phylum) excluding some genus or species-level taxa. SBMI revealed highly significant correlation with concentration of 5-day biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$) (correlation coefficient r = 0.78, n = 569 sites), total suspended solids (r = 0.69), and total phosphorus (r = 0.77). Also, SBMI revealed strong correlation with Shannon-Weaver's species diversity (r = -0.85), Margalef's species richness (r = -0.85), and McNaughton's dominance (r = 0.83). Determination coefficient of SBMI to concentration of water quality items and values of community indices such as species diversity was 3 ~ 8 % and approximately 11 ~ 14 % higher than that of GPI, respectively. Correlation between SBMI and water quality factors or community indices such as species diversity did not reveal much difference compared to that of species-level indices, such as BMI (Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index) and ESB (Ecological Score of Benthic Macroinvertebrates). SMBI is a simple-qualitative index with higher category taxa easily identified, and is applicable for rapid field assessment of water environment impairment.