• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2014

Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, has been known to reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. Although many studies have evaluated molecular targets of Ex-4, its mechanism of action on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis has not fully been determined. In the liver, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is mainly expressed in hepatocytes, endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In the present study, the effects of Ex-4 on GLUT4 expression were determined in the liver of ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice were treated with Ex-4 for 10 weeks. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic triglyceride levels, and liver tissues were evaluated for hepatic steatosis. The weights of the whole body and liver in ob/ob mice were reduced by long-term Ex-4 treatment. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice were reduced by Ex-4. Particularly, Ex-4 improved hepatic steatosis by enhancing GLUT4 via GLP-1R activation in ob/ob mice. Ex-4 treatment also inhibited hepatic fibrosis by decreasing expression of connective tissue growth factor in HSCs of ob/ob mice. Our data suggest that GLP-1 agonists exert a protective effect on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.210-228
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• 2002

Background: The purpose of this research was to examine the fall incidence rate and its related factors of fall in inpatients. Methods: The data were collected from the 138 fall incident reports in one tertiary hospital in Seoul from April 1st 1999 to September 30th 2001. The Fall Incident Report Form was originally developed based on that of Massachusetts General Hospital revised in 1995. And this was modified for this survey by the collaborating work of QI team including researcher and department of nursing service of this particular hospital. The contents of Fall Incident Form were general characteristics of patient. factors related to fall. types and places of fall. circumstances, nursing interventions. and outcome. Results: 1) The incidence rate of fall was 0.08% of total discharged patients and 0.081 per 1000 patient-day. This incidence rate is much lower than that of several hospitals in USA. This finding might result from the different incidence report system of each hospital. 2) The characteristics of fall-prone patient were found as follows. They were mostly over 60 years old, in alert mental status, ambulatory with some assistance, and dependent on ambulatory device. The types of diseases related high incidence rate were cerebrovascular disease(3.2), hypertension(1.6), cardiovascular disease(1.4), diabetes(1.3) and liver disease(0.6). 3) The majority of fall events usually occurred m bed. bedside(walking or standing) and bathroom in patient room. Usually they were up on their own when they fell. And there were more falls of elderly occurred during night time than day or evening. 4) 63.8% of fall events resulted in physical injuries such as fracture and usually the patients had diagnostic procedures and some treatment(ex. suture) which caused additional cost to the patients and their families. 5) The found risk factors of fall were drugs(antihypertensive drug, diuretics) and environmental factors like too high bed height, long distance of bedside table and lamp switch, and slippery tile of bathroom floor. Conclusion: Considering these results, every medical and nursing staff should be aware of the risk factors of patients in hospital, and should intervene more actively the preventive managements, specially for the elderly patients during night. Therefore, it is recommended that the development of Fall Prevention Programs based on these results.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2010

Cheonggukjang is one of the traditional fermented soy-based foods in Korean diets. Studies in cell cultures, humans have revealed anti-hypertension, anti-stress, anticancer, antioxidant, immune enhancing effects. Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix, and Red ginseng are popular medicinal plants and widely used for oriental medicine. In this study a strategy had been developed to mobilize beneficial phenolics from Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix, and Red ginseng combined with fermented soy by Cheonggukjang fermentation for antioxidant and Type II diabetes management. The quality and functional characteristics of Chenggukjang fermented with Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix and Red ginseng. Cheonggukjang (CKJ), Angelica gigas Cheonggukjang (CKJ-DD), Rehmanniae radix Cheonggukjang (CKJ-RG), Angelica gigas and Rehmanniae radix Cheonggukjang (CKJ-DD+RG) and Red ginseng Cheonggukjang (CKJ-RED) were evaluated. The mobilized phenolic profile was evaluated for antioxidant activity and the potential to inhibit ${\alpha}$-amylase linked to hyperglycaemia. This research has important implications for the development of functional soy-based-fermented foods enriched with Angelica gigas, Rehmanniae radix and Red ginseng phenolics for oxidative stress - induced diabetic complications. Furthermore, Hunter's color values of 5 types cheonggukjang, lightness (L-values), redness (a-values) and yellowness (b-values) were evaluated. Free amino acid content of CKJ-RED (0.993 mg/gd. w.) showed higher than that of CKJ (0.205 mg/g-d.w.).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1188-1194
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate effects of fructans (chicory inulin, fructooligosaccharide and chicory inulin oligosaccharide) on blood glucose, activities of disaccharidases in small bowel and kidneys, and splenocyte proliferation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Sixty ICR male mice were divided into one normal group and four diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin after 2 weeks of experimental diets feeding. Experimental diets based on AIN93G diet were control diet, 6$ \%$ fructooligosaccharide (FOS) diet, 6$\%$ chicory inulin oligosaccharide (CIOS) diet, 6$\%$ chicory inulin (Cl) diet, and given for 25 days after streptozotocin injection. Plasma glucose was lower in Diabetic-Cl group as compared to Diabetic-control group. Plasma insulin level was not different among diabetic groups. Specific activities of jejunal maltase and sucrase in diabetic groups were about double as that of Normal group. Jejunal maltase activity and plasma glucose were positively correlated (r=0.643). However, specific activity of renal maltase in diabetic groups was not significantly different as compared to Normal group. Stimulation index of splenocyte proliferation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly increased in Diabetic-CIOS as compared to Diabetic-control. Stimulation index of splenocyte proliferation by Concanavalin A (ConA) tended to be higher in Diabetic-CIOS group. Concentrations of interleukin-2 and interferon- $\gamma$ secreted from splenocytes induced by ConA were not significantly different among all groups. In conclusion, fructans may be effective for lowering plasma glucose, possibly by lowering disaccharidase activity and for increasing immune responses in diabetic con-ditions, where their effects can be different depending on degree of polymerization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2008

Prevention of postprandial hyperglycemia is important, as it is implicated in the development of macro- and microvascular complications associated with diabetes. An inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-amylase which acts in the first step of carbohydrate digestion, is expected to be a suppressor of postprandial hyperglycemia. This study investigated the porcine pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity of the extracts from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flower, leaf, stem and grain. Flower, leaf, stem and grain of buckwheat were extracted by water and ethanol (40%, 70%, 100%), respectively. Flower and leaf extracts were more effective ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitors than stem and grain extracts in all tested solutions. Ethanol extracts were more effective than water extracts or powders on the ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities. At concentrations of $0.5%{\sim}10%$ (w/w, starch basis), the flower extracts of 40%, 70% and 100% ethanol lowered the enzyme activity by about 90% and the results were similar to the values of acarbose. At the same concentrations, the leaf extracts of 100% ethanol lowered the enzyme activity by about 90%. These results suggest that buckwheat flower and leaf ethanol extracts may delay carbohydrate digestion and lower postprandial hyperglycemia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 1991

This survey was carried out to study the food habit and several health indicators of 438 persons (male ; 179, female ; 259) aged over 60 years old living in a middle city, The results obtained were as follows. The food habit of male was better significantly than that of female, the eating frequencies of fruits, eggs, meats and fishes, and legumes of male were higher than those of female. The mean weights and heights of both male and female were low in comparison to the Korean standard, but the mean BMIs of both male and female showed normal range and the mean obesity rates of male and female were 3.5％ and 8.2％, respectively, The mean hemoglobin content and hematocrit were 13.1g/100m1 and 39.8% in male, and 12.4g/100m1 and 37.8％ in female, respectively, The anemia rate judged by the WHO level of hemoglobin content was 42.0% in male and 34.7％ in female. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of both male and female showed normal range; But the incidence of hypertension judged by the WHO level was 15. 6% in male and 16.7% in female. The subjects suffering from diseases were 78.2% in male and 86.7% in female. Common diseases were neuralgia, circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, diabetes mellitus, and athritis. There were positive correlations between the score of food habit and body weight, height, hemoglobin content, and hematocrit. And there was a negative correlation between the food habit score and obesity rate. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were correlated positively to skinfold thickness and the incidence of suffering from diseased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.284-289
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• 2002

The effects of Okcheonsan powder on the body weights, the organ weights, the blood glucose level, the lipid and protein concentrations of serum and liver in diabetic rats were studied. Female rats (Sprague-Dawley, mean weight 313.6$\pm$18.5 g) were randomly assigned to one normal and two diabetic groups. They were fed experimental diets for 5 weeks. The diabetic groups were divided into the diabetic control (D-control group) and 3% Ok-cheonsan groups (D-Okcheonsan group). Rats were injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. The body weights, the concentrations of total lipid and triglyceride of liver, the concentrations of total protein and albumin of serum in tole D-control and the D-Okcheonsan groups were significantly decreased compared with those in the normal group. The pancreatic weight in the D-control group was significantly more increased than that in the D-Okcheonsan group, but in the D-Okcheonsan group it was similar to that in the normal group. The fasting blood glucose levels and the atherogenic index in all the diabetic groups were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of serum, and the cholesterol of fiver in the D-Okcheonsan group were significantly lower than those in the D-control group. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholestrol/total cholesterol ratio of serum were similar to those in all the groups. The concentrations of phospholipid of serum and liver in the D-Okcheonsan group were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group, In conclusion, the Okcheonsan powder feeding could decrease the pancreatic weight, the concentrations of the triglyceride, the total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of serum, and the cholesterol of liver in the diabetic rats. But the concentrations of the blood glucose, the hepatic triglyceride and the atherogenic index seems to be not affected by it.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.1090-1099
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• 2015

Among the four different parts of mulberry (Morus alba L.) tree, ethanol extract of Morus root bark showed the highest ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}=12.01{\mu}g/mL$). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of root bark by Diaion HP-20, silica gel, ODS-A, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies led to the isolation of four compounds, including Compound (Comp.) 1 ($IC_{50}=5.22{\mu}g/mL$), Comp. 2 ($IC_{50}=1.78{\mu}g/mL$), Comp. 3 ($IC_{50}=2.94{\mu}g/mL$), and Comp. 4 ($IC_{50}=1.54{\mu}g/mL$) with strong ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Their chemical structures were elucidated as morusin (Comp. 1), kuwanon H (Comp. 2), chalcomoracin A (Comp. 3), and chalcomoracin B (Comp. 4) by UV and NMR spectral analyses. These results suggest that prenylflavonoid and mulberrofuran of Morus root bark may be useful as potential therapeutic agents for diabetes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Korean red ginseng has broad efficacious effects against hypertension, diabetes, nociception, and cancer, and it counteracts weakness. It has been reported that Korean red ginseng is able to normalize blood pressure, improve cholesterol and lower blood glucose levels. We have recently reported that Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) significantly prevented rat carotid arterial thrombosis in vivo, and inhibited platelet aggregation ex vivo and in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of KRGE on blood circulation in human by measuring ex vivo platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation and serum lipid profiles in healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (placebo-group, KRGE-low dose group, KRGE-high dose group). Administration of KRGE to subjects significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $72.79{\pm}20.53$ to $62.00{\pm}23.06%$ (p=0.0009), and in KRGE-high dose group from $75.14{\pm}21.86$ to $64.52{\pm}24.72%$ (p=0.0039), respectively. Administration of KRGE to subjects also significantly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregations both in KRGE-low dose group from $85.52{\pm}12.57$ to $79.62{\pm}20.47%$ (p=0.0916), and in KRGE-high dose group from $80.24{\pm}18.11$ to $70.31{\pm}25.93%$ (p=0.0565), respectively. Whereas, KRGE has no significant effects on coagulation system, such as prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and serum lipid profiles, such as total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. KRGE also has no significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical profiles. These results suggest that KRGE has a potential to improve blood circulation through antiplatelet activity in human, and KRGE intake may be beneficial for the individuals with high risks of thrombotic and cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 1994

The aim of this study was to assess the people's need for visiting health services in a rural area. In recent years, the great concern for the visiting health services has aroused in Korea. Stratified cluster sample for a household survey was used to select 1,255(8.4%) Households from Yonchon county. This study was undertaken from July 26 to August 7 in 1993. Medically defined need, usually expressed by the prevalencies or rates of specific disease, was evaluated with the use of criteria established by medical and nursing professors and expressed by the percent of specific objects for the visiting health services. Perceived need represented by the acceptability for the visiting services and willingness to paying for it, also, evaluated. The major results were as follows : 1. Of the 348 patients with hypertension, 201 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 study population was 7.4%. 2. Of the 141 diabetic patients, 73 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 sample population was 2.7%. 3. The number of patients with severe musculo-skeletal disease was 24, the rate was 0.9% above the age 30. 4. Of the 514 elderly, 33 were the elderly without any family member, the rate was 8.4%. Those with severely decreased activity of daily living were 13. 5. Infants with high risks were 12, pregnant women and neonates were 5, patients discharged within 1 week and with special equipments such as peritoneal dialysis, stoma, TPN etc. were 17, and patients with cancer were 5. Total number of the objects needed visiting health services was 752(18.43%) of the 4,577 study population. Perceived need evaluated were as follows; The acceptance rate of visiting health services was 74.9%, The kinds of visiting health services such as family health protection and promotion, early detection of hypertension, physiotherapy, health education and counseling were needed in the order of high rate The price willing to pay for visiting health services per visit was about 3,000-5,000Won. In conclusion, Visiting health services programme to be developed should have priority to the prevention of complications of chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes milletus, elderly disease and health promotion.