• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.191-199
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• 2005

Background: Though infections of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are closely associated with activation of host angiogenesis, the underlying mechanisms, as well as the strategy for its prevention, have not been identified. Here, we investigated a causal role of H. pylori infection in angiogenesis of gastric mucosa and a potent inhibitory effect of a gastric proton pump inhibitor (PPI) on the gastropathy. Materials and Methods: A comparative analysis of CD 34 expression in tissues obtained from 20 H. pylori-associated gastritis and 18 H. pylori-negative gastritis patients was performed. Expression of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ and VEGF were tested by using RT-PCR. To evaluate the direct effect of H. pylori infection on differentiation of endothelial HUVEC cells, we carried out an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Results: H. pyfori-associated gastritis tissues showed significantly higher density of $CD34^+$ blood vessels than did H. pylori-negative gastritis tissues, and the levels were well correlated with expressions of $HIF-1{\alpha}$. Conditioned media from H. pylori-infected gastric mucosal cells stimulated a tubular formation of HUVEC cells. We also found a significant inhibitory effect of PPI, an agent frequently used for H. pylori eradication, on H. pylori-induced angiogenesis. This drug effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of MAP kinase ERK1/2, which is a principal signal for H. pylori-induced angiogenesis. Conclusion: The fact that PPls can down-regulate H. pylori-induced angiogenesis suggest that anti-angiogenic treatment using PPI may be a preventive approach for H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2001

Objectives: The experience of traffic accident is a kind of the psychosocial stressors to person. The traffic accident-related patients may show the psychophysiologic hyperarousal. So we examined the differences of psychophysiologic response between patients with and without the memory of experienceing a traffic accident. Methods: Twenty-four traffic accident-related patients were divided into two groups according to ther memory of a traffic accident. In psychological assessment, levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Rating Scales For Anxiety and Depression. Heart rate, electrodermal response (EDR), and electromyographic activity (EMG) were measured by biofeedback system, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure by automated vital sign monitor during baseline, task, and rest periods. We utilized script-driven imagery technique as a stressful task. The patients listened to the script describing their own traffic accident experience and were instructed to imagine the event during the task period. Statistically analytic data were obtained from the differences of psychological and psychophysiologic data between two groups. Results: The memory group did not show significantly higher EDR than the none memory group, but showed higher tendency during baseline, imagery, and rest periods. The memory group showed significantly lower EMG than the none memory group during rest period. However, there were no differences in other psychophysiologic reponses between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that the memory group had higher tendency in autonomic arousal level such as electrodermal response than the none memory group. We suggest that physicians need to minimize repetitive imagery of traffic accident (reexperience), and decrease the autonomic hyperarousal in the treatment of traffic accident-related patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.959-967
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• 2005

Lead is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial pollutant that causes a major health concerns. It is known to induce a broad range of physiological, biochemical, and behavioral dysfunctions in laboratory and humans, including hematopoietic system, kidneys, liver, and reproductive system. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Saengshik supplementation on the lead-induced toxicity in rats. Five week old male Sprague­Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups for six weeks as followings: control group (CT), lead acetate treated group (PT), and lead acetate groups administered with three different dosages of Saengshik $(SI2.5-12.5\%,\;S25-25\%,\;and\;S50-50\%).$ Lead acetate (12 mg/rat) was intragastrically administered daily for 6 weeks. The results were summarized as follows; Weight gain and food efficiency ratio were significantly lower (p<0.05) in lead administered group compared with those of the control group. Also, significant lead-induced alteration in blood hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and reticulocyte distribution width (RDW) were observed. In the liver of lead-exposed animals, there was an increase in the lipid peroxidation (MDA) and the level of glutathione (GSH), but superoxiede dismutase (SOD) activity did not change. Lead-exposed animals with $25\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik supplementation showed marked improvements in the values of MCH, MCV, and RDW. Also, the level of HCT was significantly increased by $50\%$ Saengshik supplementation. The levels of liver MDA in $12.5\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik administered groups and GSH level in $50\%$ Saengshik administered group were significantly decreased compared to the lead administered group. Also, hepatic SOD activity tended to increase in the presence of Saengshik supplementation. Furthermore, the accumulation of lead in liver and kidney was reduced by presence of Saneghshik supplementation. Liver lead concentration was significantly reduced by both $25\%\;and\;50\%$ Saengshik supplementations and kidney lead concentration was significantly reduced by the $25\%$ Saengshik supplementation. These results show that Saengshik may have a protective effect against lead intoxication but the mechanism of their effects remains unclear.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2012

The dietary intake of whole grains is known to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In our previous study, hog millet (HM, $Panicum$ $miliaceum$ L.) water extract showed the highest anti-lipogenic activity among nine cereal types in 3T3-L1 cells. In this study, the effect of hog millet water extract on hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet was investigated. Mice were fed a normal-fat diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing 1% or 2% (w/w) HM for 7 weeks. Body weight and food intake were monitored during the study period. Insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), fasting lipid profile, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression determined, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) were performed at the study's end. The results indicated that 1% and 2% HM diets effectively decreased liver weights, blood TG and T-cholesterol levels (p<0.05), while the HDL-cholesterol level was increased (p<0.05) compared to HFD-induced steatotsis mice. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, and SCD1) expressions decreased, whereas lipolysis- related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 2% PME diet (p<0.05). In addition, mice fed 1% or 2% HM diet had markedly decreased IGTT and HOMA-IR, compared to the those of the HFD-induced hepatic steatosis control group (p<0.05). These results indicated that HM inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation by regulating fatty acid metabolism, and suggested that HM is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of high fat-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic steatosis-related disorders including hyperlipidemia, glucose sensitivity, and insulin resistance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2008

Objective: To investigate the effects of aromatase inhibitor on reproductive hormone profiles and evaluate it's ovulation inducing capability in anovulatory infertile women. Methods: We quantified the blood levels of reproductive hormones from 30 healthy normal cycling women in natural cycle (control) and letrozole medicated cycle (study). LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S were quantified on third, 11th, 21th day in both cycles, and on 21th day, progesterone was added. Sixth anovulatory infertile women received either letrozole or clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction (n=30 in each groups). We compared the clinical parameters such as ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, the day of LH surge, number of follicles and endometrial thickness, cervical mucus amount, spinnbarkeit, mean diameter of follicles on the day of LH surge. Results: Letrozole had no effect on the LH, FSH, estradiol, DHEA-S secretion but there were significant increase in testosterone level on day 11 and progesterone level on day 21 in letrozole medicated cycle compared than control cycle ($0.40{\pm}0.16$ vs $0.28{\pm}0.11\;ng/ml$, p=0.002, $18.18{\pm}13.07$ vs $8.38{\pm}7.64\;ng/ml$, p=0.001, respectively). In comparison between letrozole and clomiphene groups, there were no significant difference in ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, number of mature follicle, mean diameter of follicles, but showed earlier LH surge, thicker endometrium, more cervical mucus, and higher spinnbarkeit in letrozole group ($12.12{\pm}2.46$ vs $14.52{\pm}3.18$ days, p=0.006, $10.48{\pm}1.23$ vs $8.52{\pm}0.93\;mm$, p=0.000, $2.04{\pm}0.61$ vs $1.57{\pm}0.59$, p=0.012, $6.00{\pm}1.12$ vs $4.95{\pm}1.61\;cm$, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Letrozole may augment folliculogenesis and improve the endometrial condition for implantation in normal cycling women. Ovulation efficacy of letrozole in anovulatory women was comparable to clomiphene citrate and letrozole may be more physiological in ovulation induction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.1031-1038
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• 1998

Background: Most of malignant pleural effusions are serous but 8-33% of them are bloody. We wanted to evaluate the relationships between gross appearance and pleural CEA level or results of histocytology in malignancy associated pleural effusions. We also tried to reevaluate the meaning of CEA measurement in histocytologically proved or unproved malignancy associated pleural effusions. Methods: We studied 98 cases of malignancy associated pleural effusions, 50 cases of histocytologically proven malignant effusions and 48 cases of histocytologically unproven paramalignant effusions. We had observed gross appearance and conventional laboratory values and CEA levels for pleural effusions. Results: 44.9% of malignancy associated effusions were bloody(63.6% of bloody effusions were histocytologically proven malignant effusion). 65.0% of malignancy associated pleural effusions which have RBCs numbers over $100,000/mm^3$ were cytologically proven malignant effusions. 72.7% of cytologically proven malignant effusions had increased pleural fluid CEA level over 10 ng/ml. 58.2% of cases with pleural CEA over 10 ng/ml had positive results in pleural bistocytology. There was no definable relationships between pleural fluid CEA elevation and RBCs numbers and results of pleural fluid cytology. Conclusion: About half of the cases with malignancy associated pleural effusions were bloody. Histocytologically proven malignant effusions were more common in bloody effusion than non-bloody effusion(63.6% Vs 38.9%). But increased red blood cell numbers was not associated with positivity of pleural histocytology. Pleural fluid CEA elevation(over 10 ng/ml) was not correlated with positive pleural histocytology. But pleural fluid CEA elevation was rare in nonmalignant pleural effusions, and than pleural CEA measurement in uncertain pleural effusions maybe helpful to distinguishes its origin.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.720-725
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• 2003

Effects of Gastrodiae Rhizoma on serum lipids and body fat in rats fed high-fat diet supplemented with 10% (w/w) lard during 11-week experimental period were investigated. Ninety-six male rats were randomly divided into eight groups: A, negative control (lard 10%); B, positive control (lard 10%+rat chow+5 brix water extract); C, lard 10%+1% G. Rhizoma powder; D, lard 10%+5% G. Rhizoma powder; E, lard 10%+2 brix 50% ethanol extract; F, lard 10%+10 brix 50% ethanol extract; G, lard 10%+2 brix water extract; H, lard 10%+10 brix water extract. Body weight gain, although slightly higher in groups A, B, and G, did not differ significantly among dietary groups. Weights of liver, spleen, kidney, and testis were significantly higher among dietary groups. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were markedly higher in both control groups than group H (p<0.05). Serum HDL concentration was significantly higher in group E, and lower in group A (p<0.05). Serum LDL+VLDL concentration was significantly lower in groups E, G, and H (p<0.05). Serum testosterone level was slightly higher in groups E, D, and H. Blood glucose level was significantly higher in groups B and G, whereas lower in group H (p<0.05). Epididymal fat pad (EFP) was markedly higher in control groups than G. Rhizoma diet-fed groups (p<0.05). The results indicated that decrease in serum lipids (TC, TG, LDL+VLDL) and body fat, and increase in serum HDL and testosterone levels were higher in groups E and H extracts than groups fed G. Rhizoma powder.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2017

Accumulation of excess low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood can initiate and accelerate atherosclerosis. Statins mediate the transactivation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn limits their cholesterol-lowering effects via LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not Allium tuberosum (AT) regulates LDLR and PCSK9. Mice were fed a low fat control diet (LD) or Western diet (WD) supplemented with AT (1%, w/w). AT significantly attenuated total and LDL cholesterol levels in mice fed WD (P<0.05). AT also significantly inhibited hepatic PCSK9 gene expression (P<0.05) while AT maintained hepatic LDLR gene expression. To further investigate AT-mediated PCSK9 regulation, HepG2 cells were treated with 10% delipidated serum (DLPS) in the presence or absence of AT. Non-toxic level of AT dose-dependently increased the LDLR protein level, and AT at $400{\mu}g/mL$ markedly inhibited PCSK9 protein expression. Similarly, AT significantly increased LDLR gene expression, whereas it significantly down-regulated PCSK9 gene expression. AT-mediated reduction of PCSK9 gene expression is likely due to decreased hepatic nuclear factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HNF1{\alpha}$) expression, but not SREBP2 in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. AT-mediated PCSK9 inhibition contributed to LDLR protein stabilization via protection against LDLR lysosomal degradation in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. Further investigation is warranted to determine the active components of AT and whether or not these components are effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

Purpose: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum $Q^{(R)}$ was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16. Results: The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment. Conclusion: It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2013

Purpose: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the major causes of end-stage renal disease. Mass school urine screening (SUS) has been performed to enable early detection of chronic renal diseases, including IgAN. We wanted to evaluate the patients with IgAN, including those diagnosed through SUS. Methods: Between 1998 and 2010, 64 children were diagnosed with IgAN based on renal biopsy results obtained at the Pediatric Nephrology Department, ${\bigcirc\bigcirc}$ University Hospital. We divided these patients into the SUS group (37 cases), diagnosed through SUS, and the symptomatic (Sx) group (27 cases), diagnosed clinically. The medical records of both groups were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the SUS and Sx groups was $10.8{\pm}2.7$ and $9.5{\pm}3.4$ years (P >0.05), respectively. Both groups had a higher proportion of male patients. The time from the notification of an abnormal urinary finding to a hospital visit or renal biopsy was shorter in the Sx group than in the SUS group. Regarding clinical manifestations, there were fewer cases with gross hematuria (P <0.001) and edema (P =0.008) in the SUS group, but there were no differences in terms of the therapeutic regimen and treatment duration. Regarding laboratory parameters, the Sx group had a higher white blood cell count (P =0.007) and lower hemoglobin (P =0.007) and albumin (P =0.000) levels. There were no differences in the renal biopsy findings in both groups, based on the history of gross hematuria or the severity of proteinuria. However, in all 64 patients with IgAN, the light microscopy findings (Hass classification) were related to a history of gross hematuria or the severity of proteinuria. Conclusion: There were no significant clinical and histological differences between the groups, as both had early stage IgAN. Although SUS facilitates the early detection of IgAN, long-term, large-scale prospective controlled studies are needed to assess the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment in chronic renal disease progression.