• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.194-206
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate microRNAs (miRNAs) related to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness using miRNA microarrays and to identify their target genes to determine the molecular regulatory pathways involved in FSH signaling in KGN cells. Methods: To change the cellular responsiveness to FSH, KGN cells were treated with FSH receptor (FSHR)-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) followed by FSH. miRNA expression profiles were determined through miRNA microarray analysis. Potential target genes of selected miRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics tools, and their regulatory function was confirmed in KGN cells. Results: We found that six miRNAs (miR-1261, miR-130a-3p, miR-329-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-144-5p and miR-4463) were differentially expressed after FSHR siRNA treatment in KGN cells. Through a bioinformatics analysis, we showed that these miRNAs were predicted to regulate a large number of genes, which we narrowed down to cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) as the main targets for miR-4463. Functional analysis revealed that miR-4463 is a regulatory factor for aromatase expression and function in KGN cells. Conclusion: In this study, we identified differentially expressed miRNAs related to FSH responsiveness. In particular, upregulation of miR-4463 expression by FSHR deficiency in human granulosa cells impaired 17β-estradiol synthesis by targeting CYP19A1 and ESR1. Therefore, our data might provide novel candidates for molecular biomarkers for use in research into poor responders.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.604-609
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• 2016

In postmenopausal women, estrogen deficiency can be associated with metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related to lipid, glucose and antioxidnat metabolism. Sprague-Dawley female rats were subjected to either bilateral ovariectomy or sham operation and randomly divided into 3 dietary groups, (n=8) sham-operated fed with normal diet (SHAM), ovariectomized fed with normal diet (OVX), and ovariectomized fed with normal diet supplemented with Eucommia ulmoides extract (OVX-EU). The OVX-EU group showed significantly lower body weight, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol than that showed by the OVX group. In addition, the OVX-EU group showed improved lipogenesis, glucose-regulating enzyme activities, adipokine and antioxidant enzyme activities. These findings demonstrate that extracts from E. ulmoides extract can be used as a functional food.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2015

Osteoporosis is a major bone disorder defined as having bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations or more below the peak bone mass. Osteoporosis will increasingly be a major disorder that faces the aging mankind. It is the result of an imbalance in the bone remodeling system, where bone constantly undergoes a cycle of resorption by osteoclasts and formation by osteoblasts. Estrogen deficiency in women following menopause is identified as the predominant reason that causes disparity in this system. Current medical treatments for osteoporosis include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), biphosphonates, and teriparatide, but have various side effects that raise questions concerning their medical safety and practicality. Alternative treatments involving natural product sources are under study to find a safer therapy. Many natural sources including lactoferrin and isoflavones and numerous traditional herbal medicines exhibit anti-resorptive or anabolic effects on bone and thus show promises to provide therapeutic agents in treating osteoporosis. Unfortunately, the majority of natural product treatments are still in its preliminary stages to prove their efficacy even though the development pace of treatment for osteoporosis is astounding in the past few decades. Further progress in pre-clinical studies and the subsequent clinical studies will someday lead to a breakthrough that takes us another step forward in science.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 2002

The therapeutic effect of safflower seed powder on experimental osteoporosis in the rat induced by ovariectomy was evaluated. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized at the age of 12 weeks. Seven weeks postovariectomy, rats were divided into two groups: control and safflower seed powder treated group. Five animals from each group were sacrificed at the following time points: 1, 3, and 5 weeks. Scanning electron microscopic observation and morphometric analysis of the tibiae epiphysis showed that the administration of safflower seed powder significantly prevented reduction of cortical bone width and bone volume compared with the control group. In conclusion, safflower seed powder contains something that prevent bone loss due to estrogen deficiency, and was effective in preventing the osteoporotic decrease of bone mass.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.833-839
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• 2005

This study was conducted to demonstrate whether dietary Ca and the soy isoflavones supplementation could reduce the bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency. Nine week-old female rats (SD) were ovariectomized and then fed on diet of low $(0.1\%)$ or normal $(0.5\%)$ Ca supplemented with soy isoflavones (80 and 160 ppm) for 6 weeks. The ovariectomized and sham-operated rats showed normal serum Ca and P levels, and dietary Ca and soy isoflavones did not changed them. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity was increased in all ovariectomized rats, especially in the rats fed low Ca diet regardless of isoflavone supplementation. The serum tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase was not significantly different among the ovariectomized rats and were not changed by dietary Ca and isoflavones. Breaking force of femur was higher in the rats fed the nomral Ca diets and not statistically changed by soy isoflavone supplementation. Femoral and lumbar Ca and P contents decreased in the ovariectomized rats and the soy isoflavones-80 ppm supplementation significantly enhanced bone minerals, but the soy isoflavones-160 ppm supplementation did not. Dietary Ca increased lumbar Ca and P contents. The results of this study have suggested that the soy isoflavones 80 ppm supplementation could be sufficient to prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats and normal Ca supplementation could enhance the effect of soy isoflavones on bone protection.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2015

Aleurone layer of Black rice (Oryza sativa L.) is enriched with anthocyanin that could increase bone density. This study was conducted to investigate the osteoporosis-preventing effects of the aleurone layer extract (BRE) on bone loss of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX (or sham-operated) rats were assigned to three groups (n=8 per group): sham operated group (Sham); OVX control group (OVX); OVX-BRE group, OVX rats treated with BRE at 90 mg/kg B.W. The deionized water alone or deionized water with BRE was orally administrated to Sham, OVX or OVX-BRE groups, respectively for 12 weeks. High fat diet with 45 kcal% fat and water were fed to all rats ad libitum. Body weight was significantly decreased in the OVXBRE group compared to the OVX group (p<0.05). The bone mineral density and bone length of tibia were significantly higher in the OVX-BRE group compared to the OVX group and breaking force was significantly higher for the both tibia and femur bones. Serum estradiol concentration and calcium concentration of femur were higher in the OVX-BRE group than those of OVX group. However, serum alkaline phosphatase activity and parathyroid hormone concentration were decreased in the OVXBRE group compared to the OVX group. The results suggest that aleurone layer of Black rice is a potentially useful ingredient to protect against estrogen deficiency or menopause related osteoporosis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2019

Women who undergo natural menopause transition have increased numbers of risk factors relating to metabolic syndrome due to estrogen deficiency. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Superhongmi bran extract on metabolic syndrome improvement in menopausal women. Thirty women, who participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, were assigned to placebo-control (n=15) or Superhongmi bran extract (n=15) groups and were asked to consume two tablets (350 mg per extract per tablet) per day. After 12 weeks, weight, body mass index (BMI), plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, and total cholesterol (TC) levels were significantly decreased, whereas HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), adiponectin, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and GSH (glutathione) concentrations were significantly increased in the Superhongmi bran extract group. Moreover, $17{\beta}-estradiol$, and progesterone levels in the Superhongmi group were significantly higher than those in the placebo-control group. These results suggest that Superhongmi bran extract alleviates metabolic symptom in menopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1350-1356
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• 2005

Osteoporosis that is associated with estrogen deficiency in menopause is by far the most common cause of age-related bone loss. Since isoflavone had been reported as a natural substance that minimizes bone loss, we have begun this study to examine the effect of the substance on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Five week-old (n=22) and 25 week-old (n=22) Sprage-Dawley female rats were classified into young (Y) and adult (A) groups. Each group consisted of three subgroups : sham operated group (SH), ovariectomized group (OVX), and isoflavone supplemented group (OVX+ISO 80 mg/kg B.W.). They were fed chow for 9 weeks. The result showed that body weight gain was increased in YOVX in comparison to YSH group, (p<0.05) serum osteocalcin concentration and urinal deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion had significantly increased in YOVX more than in YSH group, and significantly decrease in OVX+ISO than in YOVX group (p<0.05). We concluded that soy isoflavones may decrease bone turnover in young rats. However, isoflavone supplement didn't show significant influence on bone metabolism of adult rats.