• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.116-129
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of social capital with suicidal thoughts and attempts in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: We used the data from community health interviews conducted at 40 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The 8,800 study subjects composed of 220 adults systematically sampled from each administrative section were asked if they had thought about suicide or had attempted suicide within 1 year. The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt within 1 year were 10.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that those who participated in only informal groups, or had highest trust level reported less suicidal ideation, or attempt after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability), self-rated health, and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise). Conclusions: This study suggested social capital such as social participation and trust was associated with less suicide ideation and attempt. More studies are warranted for the association of social capital with suicidal behavior.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high n-3 or n-6 diet on free fatty acid profile and meat quality traits of pork loin. The 20 heads of commercial $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc(LYD)$ crossbreed pigs ($90.9{\pm}2.4BWkg$) were divided into four groups by added fat and oils, such as 5% tallow (Control), 5% linseed oil (T1), 5% safflower oil (T2), and mixture of linseed oil (2.5%) + safflower oil (2.5%) (T3), then reared 4 weeks. Pork loins were taken after slaughter, then sliced in 2 cm thickness and put in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bag for analysis. T1 showed significantly high concentration of linolenic acid ($2.35{\pm}0.21%$) (p<0.05). The total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was significantly high in T1 ($36.05{\pm}1.18%$), C ($22.60{\pm}2.11%$) and T2 ($47.80{\pm}1.29%$), respectively (p<0.05). However, the ratio of n-6:n-3 was significantly low in T1 ($11.57{\pm}0.90$) than that of T2 ($37.56{\pm}12.51$) (p<0.05). There was no signigicant difference in lightness, redness, pH, water holding capacity and cooking loss between treatments (p>0.05). However, the yellowness of T2 was significantly higher than others (p<0.05). From those results, it was considered that feeding high n-3 and n-6 fatty acid diet to pig enables modify fatty acid profile of pork without any side effect on meat quality.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.351-368
• /
• 2004

Following the previous experiments, a starvation experiment was conducted to determine the influence of feeding and starvation on the histological and biochemical changes, the morphormetric changes in the sectioned body and the morphometric changes in Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (Sauvage and Dabry). The influence of starvation on nutritional conditions of the histological changes of hepatocyte and intestinal epithelium as hepatosmatic index (HSI), protein, RNA and DNA concentrations of liver in R. oxycephalus was tested. Although the starved group showed higher concentrations of protein, DNA and RNA than the fed group, food deprivation resulted in a decrease in the HSI, hepatocyte nucleus size and nuclear height of the intestinal epithelium. The RNA - DNA ratio appears to be a useful index of nutritional status in R. oxycephalus and may be useful for determining if R. oxycephalus is in a period of rapid or slow growth at the time of sampling. Additionally, the data have been interpreted in detail and some biologically important relationships discussed. The effects of starvation on the morphometrical changes in sectioned body traits, condition factor, viscera index and dressing percentage were determined for evaluating nutritional conditions of R. oxycephalus. Starvation for nine weeks resulted in a decrease in most sectioned traits as well as in condition factor and viscera index (P<0.05). These findings suggest that nutritional parameters used in this study appear to be a useful index for nutritional status in this species. The data has been interpreted in detail and some important body sectioned values of interest to commercial growers discussed. A 75-day study was conducted to determine the effect of starvation on classical and truss parameters in R. oxycephalus. Truss dimensions of almost the entire head and trunk region as well as the abdomen were increased significantly through feeding or starvation (P<0.05). Truss dimensions of the caudal region generally decreased through feeding or starvation, particularly those dimensions at the hind part of the trunk. There were some significant decreases in classical dimensions of the head region during feeding, in relation to body depth characteristics in the trunk and caudal region during starvation, whereas there was only one decreasing classical dimension in the caudal region during feeding. The results of this study indicate that application of the truss network as a character set enforces classical coverage across the body form, discrimination among experimental groups thus being enhanced. Considering that the dimension of the lower part of the head and some truss and classical dimensions were least affected by feeding and starvation, these dimensions may then be useful as a taxonomical indicator to discriminate the species of Rhynchocypris sp. The value of trunk region dimensions with a large component of body depth in R. oxycephalus is most likely to be compromised by variability related to differences in feeding regimes of fish in different habitats.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.85-94
• /
• 2012

The anti-obese, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of post-fermented green tea by Monascus pilosus was tested with mice fed with high-fat diet for 7 weeks. The body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio (FER) in normal control group (NC), CHA (2% non-fermented green tea powder supplemented high-fat diet group) and mCHA (2% green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus supplemented high fat diet group) groups were significantly lower than those of high fat diet control group (HC). Epididymal fat weight in mCHA and NC were significantly lower than HC. The hepatic lipid peroxide was dramatically higher in HC than that of NC and was significantly lower in CHA and mCHA. In addition, dehydrogenase type activity of xanthine oxidoreductase in HC was lower than that of NC, but significantly higher than CHA and mCHA. In histopathological findings, hepatic fat accumulation in HC was higher than that of NC, CHA and mCHA. Antiobese, hypolipidemic and antifatty liver effect of green tea powder post-fermented by M. pilosus was slightly higher than that of non-fermented green tea. In conclusion, the constituents of green tea fermented by M. pilosus has been proven to not only inhibit obesity and hyperlipidemia but also decrease the hepatic fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.515-528
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit. Results: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.194-205
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors of preschoolers in Daejeon using the Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P). Methods: The study subjects were recruited from child-care centers and kindergartens located in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon between August and September 2018. A total of 411 preschoolers aged 3 ~ 6 years were included in the data analyses. A questionnaire of NQ-P, which consisted of 14 checklist items on dietary behaviors, was completed by the parents or guardians of the study subjects. The NQ-P scores and its three factors, including "balance", "moderation", and "environment" factors, were calculated according to sex, age, and weight status. Differences in the NQ-P scores and their factors according to sex, age, and weight status were tested using a student's t-test. Results: The mean NQ-P score of the total subjects was $58.5{\pm}9.2$, which was within the medium-low grade. The NQ-P score was $58.5{\pm}9.4$ in boys and $58.6{\pm}9.0$ in girls (p = 0.955). The NQ-P score was similar regardless of the age groups ($57.8{\pm}9.4$ in 3 ~ 4 years vs. $59.2{\pm}9.0$ in 5 ~ 6 years, p = 0.124), whereas subjects aged 5 ~ 6 years showed a significantly higher scores of environment factors than those aged 3 ~ 4 years ($67.9{\pm}16.8$ vs. $61.7{\pm}17.3$). The mean score of the moderation factor was lower in the overweight/obese children compared to the non-overweight/obese children ($46.6{\pm}13.3$ vs. $51.0{\pm}16.2$, p = 0.012). Compared to children aged 3 ~ 4 years, children aged 5 ~ 6 years had higher intakes of vegetable dishes and processed meat. The overweight/obese group showed a higher consumption of processed beverages than the non-overweight/obese group. Conclusion: The current study indicates that the dietary behaviors of preschoolers residing in Daejeon need to be improved. These findings suggest that nutrition education or health interventions targeting young children is necessary for improving their nutritional health status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.73-89
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the dietary life and nutritional status of Korean elementary school students according to breakfast frequency and to clarify the relationship between breakfast frequency of elementary school students and parental dietary and social environmental factors. Methods: This study used data from the 2013 ~ 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI). The subjects were 1,325 elementary school students aged 6 to 11 years old. Subjects were categorized into two groups: a skipping breakfast group (ate breakfast 0 ~ 4 times per week), eating breakfast group (ate breakfast 5 ~ 7 times per week) by sex and grade (lower grade: 1st ~ 3rd/upper grade: 4 th ~ 6 th). Results: Among upper grade boys and girls, the skipping breakfast group had a higher rate of childhood obesity than the eating breakfast group. In lower grade boys, the mothers of the skipping breakfast group had higher rates of economic activity and eating breakfast alone without family members than the mothers of the eating breakfast group. For lower grade boys and girls and upper grade boys, the skipping breakfast group had a higher rate of parents who did not eat breakfast than the eating breakfast group. The energy intake of the breakfast consumed by all subjects was less than 25% of the Estimated Energy Requirements (EER). Moreover, for upper grade boys and girls, the skipping breakfast group had a higher rate of subjects whose daily intake was below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for iron than the eating breakfast group. Conclusion: Breakfast frequency of elementary school students was related to childhood obesity. The frequency of eating breakfast among elementary school students was related to the dietary life factors of parents such as breakfast frequency and dietary condition. Intake for breakfast was less than 25% of the EER, while the skipping breakfast group had a higher rate of subjects whose daily intake was below the EAR for iron than the eating breakfast group. Therefore, it is necessary to consider diverse forms of policy support such as opening nutrition education programs for parents and practicing morning meals at school for elementary school students to provide regular and balanced breakfasts.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.247-255
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the radiation protection effect of protaetia brevitarsis larvae extracts known as antioxidant food. In this study 90 female rats were clssified in to 5 groups: NC Group, PBE Group, IR Group, PBE+IR Group and IR+PBE Group. In IR Group, 7 Gy of Co-60 gamma ray was irradiated to SD rat and protaetia brevitarsis larvae extracts were administered orally at 200 mg/kg once a day for 14 days. And then on the 1 day, 7 days, 21 days later after irradiation, changes in blood cell component, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, spleen index, histopathological evaluation of the ovary and uterus were observed. As a result, the PBE+IR Group (p<0.01, p<0.05) and IR+PBE Group (p<0.01, p<0.01) showed a significantly radiation protection than the IR Group in lymphocyte and red blood cell on the 21 days. It was also confirmed that SOD activity of PBE+IR Group (p<0.01) and IR+PBE Group (p<0.01) was significantly increased than the IR Group. In spleen index, PBE+IR Group (p<0.05) and IR+PBE Group (p<0.01) showed a significantly recovery than the IR Group. In histopathological observation, PBE+IR Group in the ovary and PBE+IR, IR+PBE Group in the uterus showed less inflammatory reactions of cystoplasm than the IR Group. Based on These results, It is judged that protaetia brevitarsis larvae Extracts have radiation protection effect against blood and reproductive. It is expected to be useful for research of radiation protection agent.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1109-1117
• /
• 2020

In order to verify whether Zophobas atratus is an edible insect, the nutrients and harmful substances of Z. atratus larvae reared with an artificial diet (AD) and wheat bran (WB) were compared and analyzed. Based on dry weight, the crude protein content of Z. atratus larvae reared with an AD was 62.4%, 1.4 times higher than that of those reared with WB (45.2%). The crude fat content was 20.5% in the AD group, 2.3 times less than in the WB group (46.3%). The leucine content was 1.4 times higher in the AD group (4.2%) than in the WB group (3.0%). The glutamic acid content of nonessential amino acids was 1.3 times higher in the AD group (7.0%) than in the WB group (5.3%). The oleic acid content was 1.4 times higher in the WB group (37.0%) than in the AD group (26.7%). The potassium content was 1.1 times higher in the AD group (975.9 mg/100 g) than in the WB group (872.9 mg/100 g). According to the results of the toxic substances analysis, the lead and cadmium levels of the WB and AD groups were standard for edible insects. Pathogenic microorganisms, such as E. coli and salmonella, were not detected in either group. According to the results of the present analysis of nutrition and harmful substances, Z. atratus larvae raised on an AD are safe and contain various nutrients. Therefore, such larvae could be useful sources of food and feed.