• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2002

Purpose of this study was to compare serum phospholipid fatty acid composition of obese children with that of normal weight children reside in Kangnung area. Subjects were consisted of 56(41 boys and 15 girls) moderately or severely obese elementary school children, and age and sex-matched normal weight children as a control group. Level of serum phospholipid fatty acids was measured by thin layer chromatography(TLC) followed by gas chromatography(GLC). for male subjects, serum triglyceride(121 $\pm$ 4.7mg/dl) and total cholesterol(180 $\pm$ 37.1mg/dl) concentrations were significantly(p < 0.05) higher in obese group than those for control group(81.5 $\pm$ 2.5mg/dl and 161 $\pm$ 32.0mg/dl, respectively). Obese group showed significantly higher percentage of serum phospholipid myristic acid(C14:0) than the value for control group in both male and female subjects. Obese male subjects had significantly higher percentages of palmitoleic acid(16 : 1), oleic acid(18 : 1), dihomo-${\gamma}$-linoleic acid(20 : 3, $\omega$6) and docosatetraenoic acid(22 : 4, $\omega$6), and lower percentages of eicosenoic acid(20 : 1, $\omega$6), docosapentaenoic acid(22 : 5, $\omega$6), EPA(22 : 5, $\omega$3) and DHA (22 : 6, $\omega$3) compared to values for control male subjects. For male subjects, obese group showed significantly higher ratios of 16 : 1($\omega$9)/16 : 0 and 18 : 1($\omega$9)/18 : 0, and significantly lower ratios of 22 : 5($\omega$6)/22 4($\omega$6), and 22 : 6($\omega$3)/22 : 5($\omega$3) compacted to values for the control group. But there was not significant differences in elongation and desaturation indices of serum phospholipids fatty acid metabolism between obese and control group in female subjects. Most of anthropometric measurements related to obesity were negatively correlated with the percentages of PUFA, $\omega$3 fatty acids or DHA(22 : 6, $\omega$3), and positively correlated with the percentage of myristic acid(14 : 0) or $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio in serum phospholipids. Serum triglyceride concentration was negatively correlated with the percentage of PUFA or $\omega$3 fatty acids, and positively correlated with $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio in serum phospholipids. These results indicate that obesity related changes in blood lipid levels and metabolism are more significant in male subjects than in female subjects. Also changes in serum phospholipid fatty acid composition observed in obese children appear to demonstrate the increased susceptibility of these children to cardiovascular disease and other related chronic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1076-1081
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• 2005

Purpose : Insulin resistance is the most important risk factor linked to the development of impaired glucose tolerance(IGT), diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases in childhood and adolescent obesity, The purpose of this study was to see whether insulin resistance of obese adolescent is higher than that of obese children. and to analyze gender difference and affecting factors of insulin resistance. Methods : Of the 9,837 school children from 5 to 16 tears old, 92 obese children and 187 adolescent, underwent a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test and plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, leptin and high sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) were measure. Results : Plasma insulin levels of female were higher compared to those of males during oral glucose tolerance test(P<0.05). Four(4.3%) in obese children and twenty five(13.3%) in obese adolescents met the criteria of IGT. Female, leptin, adiponectin and triglyceride concentrations were strongly correlated with homeostatic model assessment insulin-resistance(HOMA-IR) by multiple linear regression analysis(P<0.05). Conclusion : Obese adolescents might have higher insulin concentrations compared to obese children and obese girls higher insulin concentrations than obese boys. Obese boys and children with impaired glucose tolerance have higher insulin concentrations than those with normal glucose tolerance. HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with female, plasma leptin, adiponectin and triglyceride concentrations.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype plays an essential role in many cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we provide evidence that $kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like factor 8 (KLF8) is essential for tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$)-induced phenotypic conversion of VSMC obtained from thoracic aorta from 4-week-old SD rats. Stimulation of the contractile phenotype of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ significantly reduced the VSMC marker gene expression and KLF8. The gene expression of KLF8 was blocked by $TNF{\alpha}$ stimulation in an ERK-dependent manner. The promoter region of KLF8 contained putative Sp1, KLF4, and $NF{\kappa}B$ binding sites. Myocardin significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF4 and KLF8. The ectopic expression of KLF4 strongly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. Moreover, silencing of Akt1 significantly attenuated the promoter activity of KLF8; conversely, the overexpression of Akt1 significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. The promoter activity of SMA, $SM22{\alpha}$, and KLF8 was significantly elevated in the contractile phenotype of VSMCs. The ectopic expression of KLF8 markedly enhanced the expression of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$ concomitant with morphological changes. The overexpression of KLF8 stimulated the promoter activity of SMA. Stimulation of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ enhanced the expression of KLF5, and the promoter activity of KLF5 was markedly suppressed by KLF8 ectopic expression. Finally, the overexpression of KLF5 suppressed the promoter activity of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$, thereby reduced the contractility in response to the stimulation of angiotensin II. These results suggest that cross-regulation of KLF family of transcription factors plays an essential role in the VSMC phenotype.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Thirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024). CONCLUSTIONS: In the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.511-519
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• 2011

Dietary intake of whole grains reduces the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In an earlier study, we showed that Panicum miliaceum L. extract (PME) exhibited the highest anti-lipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells among extracts of nine different cereal grains tested. In this study, we hypothesized that PME in the diet would lead to weight loss and augmentation of hyperlipidemia by regulating fatty acid metabolism. PME was fed to ob/ob mice at 0%, 0.5%, or 1% (w/w) for 4 weeks. After the experimental period, body weight changes, blood serum and lipid profiles, hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression, and white adipose tissue (WAT) fatty acid composition were determined. We found that the 1% PME diet, but not the 0.5%, effectively decreased body weight, liver weight, and blood triglyceride and total cholesterol levels (P < 0.05) compared to obese ob/ob mice on a normal diet. Hepatic lipogenic-related gene ($PPAR{\alpha}$, L-FABP, FAS, and SCD1) expression decreased, whereas lipolysis-related gene (CPT1) expression increased in animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Long chain fatty acid content and the ratio of C18:1/C18:0 fatty acids decreased significantly in adipose tissue of animals fed the 1% PME diet (P < 0.05). Serum inflammatory mediators also decreased significantly in animals fed the 1% PME diet compared to those of the ob/ob control group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that PME is useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.526-530
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was investigating serum lipid, apolipoprotein levels and their correlations in healthy adults of Gyeongnam area. The BMI (body mass index) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in male (25.2 ${\pm}$ 2.7 $kg/m^2$) than female (23.8 ${\pm}$ 1.5 $kg/m^2$), however PBF (percent body fat) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in female (29.6 ${\pm}$ 4.3%) than male (22.7 ${\pm}$ 5.0%). The WHR (waist to hip ratio) and blood pressure in the groups showed there was no significant differences. The levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in male (208.7 ${\pm}$ 27.7 mg/dl, 129.0 ${\pm}$ 26.9 mg/dl, 1.0 ${\pm}$ 0.2 g/L) than female (193.6 ${\pm}$ 29.1 mg/dl, 112.5 ${\pm}$ 29.5 mg/dl, 0.9 ${\pm}$ 0.2 g/L, but HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in female (54.9 ${\pm}$ 6.6 mg/dl) than male (49.9 ${\pm}$ 7.3 mg/dl). The LDL-C/HDL-C, Apo B/Apo A-I and AI (atherogenic index) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in male (2.6 ${\pm}$ 0.6, 0.8 ${\pm}$ 0.2, 3.3 ${\pm}$ 0.7) than female (2.1 ${\pm}$ 0.5, 0.6 ${\pm}$ 0.2, 2.6 ${\pm}$ 0.5). The triglyceride level was positively correlated with apolipoprotein B concentration (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol concentration (p < 0.05), however no significant correlation was found with apolipoprotein A-I. According to these results, we conclude that male adults are expecting higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than female adults and we suggest the serum triglyceride should be kept normal level for the prevention of these diseases.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.52-70
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• 1996

This historical research was conducted to analyze and categorize the titles which were presented in the journal, The Korean Nurse, from August 1962 to October 1995. Titles which were published with the purpose of educating graduate nurses and to update 0 their nursing knowledge to improve professional practice were included. There were 348 articles published from the beginning of publication in August, 1962 to October, 1995. All of the journals were reviewed except nine missing journals which were not available in any library. According to the characteristics of the articles in the periodical, the articles were divided into three periods. In each of the three peroids there were five categories: Subject, Clinical Practice, Fundamentals of Nursing Science, Nursing Administration, Others. These categories were adopted from Kim's(1994) division system which was developed to analyze nurse's insurance education program. The special feature peroid was from August, 1962 to December, 1974. In this period the articles were presented in an unorganized manner in the area of special feature or main issue. The largest area was the subject category(44%). The second largest area wes the fundamental of nursing science category(31%). From May, 1975 to December, 1977, the articles with the educational purposes were published in a designated area called continuing education. This period was labelled as the continuing education period. Among the published articles in this period, 45% focused on the subject category and 45% on the fundamentals of nursing science category. In this period the articles were focusing on nurses 'work in specific areas such as industry, nurses' aid schools, and nursing administration, articles on physical assessment first started to appear. The written continuing education period was from January 1978 to October, 1995. All the educational articles published in this area were analyzed and categorized into five areas as for the other periods. 48% of the articles focused on the subject category. In the mid-eighties, the term nurse specialist first.appeared and ten years later in 1990, the titles were subdivided into more specific titles, such as, home nursing, industrial nursing, emergency nursing, 23% were in the fundamental nursing science category and they dealt with nursing process, nursing theories, theory development. For the content analysis, three articles, one from each period, dealing with cardiovscular diseases were selected for comparsion. First, the special feature period, the title of the article was on diet therapy for cardiovascular disease patients, but instead the content was about rest, hygiene, medication, observation. They recommended rings to prevent bed sores, which is now considered as a cause for bed sores. In the continuing education period, the content was more focused on rehabilitation rather than general nursing .care. It became more specific, systematic, and organized compared with the special feature period. In the written continuing education period, the focus was on rehabilitation, not broadly, but very specifically on exercise. The further research on the content analysis is recommended along with a comparison of the trends in the Journal of Nurses Academic Society.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2004

A study was carried out to determine the effect of a very low-carbohydrate diet on weight gain, body composition, and serum levels of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, glucose, ketone bodies and insulin. Twenty rats (mean initial weight, 212 g) were divided into two groups and each group was assigned a conventional high-carbohydrate diet (control) or a very low-carbohydrate diet containing 59.8% ground pork rind snack and fed the diet for four weeks. Average daily body weight gain was not different between the two groups during the first two weeks, but was significantly lower in rats fed the very low-carbohydrate diet than in those in the control group during third (p<0.05) and fourth weeks (p<0.01). Feedintake as well as energy intake was lower in rats fed the very low-carbohydrate diet than in those in the control group. The very low-carbohydrate diet reduced (p<0.01) serum triacylglycerol (34$\pm$83 vs 82$\pm$8 mg/l00 mL) and insulin (3.90$\pm$0.53 vs 7.60$\pm$0.61 $\mu$IU/mL) levels, while increasing (p<0.01) ketone body level (368$\pm$25 vs 236$\pm$24 $\mu$mol/L), compared with the control. Serum glucose and total cholesterol levels were not different (p>0.05) between the two dietary treatments. Proximate analysis of carcasses showed that the very low-carbohydrate diet decreased (p<0.01) body fat (26.1$\pm$1.04 vs 30.5$\pm$0.86%), while increasing (p<0.01) body protein (63.1$\pm$0.94 vs 59.4$\pm$0.70%) contents. Results indicate that short-term feeding of a very low-carbohydrate diet is beneficial for alleviating risk factors known to involve cardiovascular diseases or artherosclerosis. However, more studies with model animals as well as humans are recommended to examine the long-term health benefits of low-carbohydrate diets.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2013

Notch1 has been reported to be highly expressed in triple-negative and other subtypes of breast cancer. Mutant p53 (R280K) is overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative human breast cancer cells. The present study aimed to determine whether the mutant p53 can be a potent transcriptional activator of the Notch1 in MDA-MB-231 cells, and explore the role of this mutant p53-Notch1 axis in curcumin-induced apoptosis. We found that curcumin treatment resulted in an induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, together with downregulation of Notch1 and its downstream target, Hes1. This reduction in Notch1 expression was determined to be due to the decreased activity of endogenous mutant p53. We confirmed the suppressive effect of curcumin on Notch1 transcription by performing a Notch1 promoter-driven reporter assay and identified a putative p53-binding site in the Notch1 promoter by EMSA and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. Overexpression of mutant p53 increased Notch1 promoter activity, whereas knockdown of mutant p53 by small interfering RNA suppressed Notch1 expression, leading to the induction of cellular apoptosis. Moreover, curcumin-induced apoptosis was further enhanced by the knockdown of Notch1 or mutant p53, but it was decreased by the overexpression of active Notch1. Taken together, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that Notch1 is a transcriptional target of mutant p53 in breast cancer cells and suggest that the targeting of mutant p53 and/or Notch1 may be combined with a chemotherapeutic strategy to improve the response of breast cancer cells to curcumin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.833-842
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• 2020

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a commonly encountered large intestine disease in the contemporary world that terminates into colorectal cancer; therefore, the timely treatment of UC is of major concern. Panax ginseng Meyer is an extensively consumed herbal commodity in South East Asian countries, especially Korea. It exhibits a wide range of biologically beneficial qualities for almost head-to-toe ailments in the body. Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN) is also a widely used traditional Korean herbal medicine used for treating infertility, rheumatism, and cardiovascular diseases. Materials and methods: Separately the anti-inflammatory activities of both red ginseng extracts (RGEs) and EKNs had been demonstrated in the past in various inflammatory models; however, we sought to unravel the anti-inflammatory activities of the combination of these two extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice model because the allopathic remedies for UC involve more side effects than benefits. Results: Our results have shown that the combination of RGE + EKN synergistically alleviated the macroscopic lesions in DSS-induced colitic mice such as colon shortening, hematochezia, and weight loss. Moreover, it restored the histopathological lesions in mice and decreased the levels of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines through the repression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP-3) expression. In vitro, this combination also reduced the magnitude of nitric acid (NO), proinflammatory mediators and cytokine through NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Conclusion: In the light of these findings, we can endorse this combination extract as a functional food for the prophylactic as well as therapeutic treatment of UC in humans together with allopathic remedies.