• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.264-270
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of red-yeast-rice on blood lipids and also to investigated the relation of blood lipids, bone related hormones, and bone mineral density in overiectomized rats. Forty female rats (body weight $210\pm5$g) were divided into two groups. The rats in the first group were ovariectomized which the others received sham operation (SHAM). And then each rat group was further divided into control diet $(casein\;20\%)$ and red-yeast-rice powder supplemented $(0.1\%)$ diet group. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus in spine and femur. Bone formation and bone resorption were measured by serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks value. Serum growth hormone, IGF-1 and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the blood triglyceride concentration and had lower the blood total cholesterol concentration than casein group did in ovariectomized rats. And the red-yeast-rice group than casein group in ovariectomized rats. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the atherogenic index than control group within the ovariectomized groups. In the experimental rats, serum total cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with femur BMC and crosslink value. Crosslink value was negatively correlated with spine BMC and IGF-1. Osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with crosslink value. Growth hormone was negatively correlated with crosslink value and positively correlated with spine BMC. The findings of this study suggest that red-yeast-rices are beneficial for blood lipid in ovariectomized rats. And when considering a population-based public health approach to lowering cholesterol and bone loss, and preventing coronary heart disease and osteoporosis, the red-yeast-rice dietary supplement could provide a new approach for the maintenance of healthier cholesterol and bone.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.165-169
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to offer effective basic data for selection and improvement of Korean dairy cattle through identifying distributional properties among candidate genes (bovine butyrophilin, signal transducers and activators of transcription 5a, and prolactin hormone). In this study, polymorphisms of candidate genes were identified and the relationships between loci and production traits of each gene were analyzed using frozen semen of Holstein bulls (19 proven and 77 candidates). In butyrophilin (BTN) locus, polymorphisms information contents (PIC) value of BTN2 (0.372) was higher than those of others (BTN1; 0.155, BTN3; 0.254, BTN4; 0.169). As a result of analysis of genotyping STAT5a, using single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) method and microsatellite locus, PIC values were 0.189 and 0.457, respectively. And PIC value of prolactin hormone gene was 0.176. In the relationships between genotypes and production traits, BTN3 was associated with 305-day production traits (p<0.05). PTAs for B allele were such as 110.43, 88.28 and 75.25 in BTN1, 3, 4 and these values were higher than those of A allele, but in the case of BTN2, A allele with 154.19 was higher than that of B allele. The results obtained from using candidate genes may be used as an useful index for the genetic improvement of dairy cattle population in Korea, and further studies are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.10
• /
• pp.4225-4231
• /
• 2014

Aim: To determine prognostic value of blood parameters on overall and progression-free survival in cases received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy with diagnosis of stage I-III breast cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed files of 350 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer who were treated in the Radiation Oncology Department of Kayseri Teaching Hospital between 2005 and 2010. Pretreatment white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, monocyte, basophil and eosinophil counts, and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were recorded. The relationship between clinicopathological findings and blood parameters was assessed. Results: Overall, 344 women and 6 men were recruited. Median age was $55.3{\pm}0.3$ years (range: 22-86). Of the cases, 243 (61.4%) received radiotherapy while 329 (94.3%), received chemotherapy and 215 (61.4%) received hormone therapy. Mean overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.4 and 78.8 months, respectively. During follow-up, 48 patients died due to either disease-related or non-related causes. Local recurrence was detected in 14 cases, while distant metastasis was noted in 45 cases. In univariate analysis, age, pathology, perinodal invasion were significantly associated with overall survival, whereas gender, stage and hormone therapy were significantly associated with progression-free survival. In multivariate analysis, histopathological diagnosis (OR: 0.3; 95%: 0.1-0.7; p=0.006) and perinodal invasion (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.1-1.3; p=0.026) were significantly associated with overall survival, whereas tumor stage (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 0.0-0.7; p=0.014) and hormone therapy (OR: 2.1; 95%: 1.2-3.8; p=0.010) were significantly associated with progression-free survival. Conclusions: It was found that serum inflammatory markers including WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts, and NLR and PLR had no effect on prognosis in patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery and received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.325-327
• /
• 2013

Objective: To differentiate between benign and malignant hyperparathyroidism on the basis of excretion of HCG and its malignant isoforms in urine. Materials and Methods: This hospital based study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in Manipal Teaching Hospital from $1^{st}$ January, 2008 and $31^{st}$ August, 2012. The variables collected were urinary HCG and HCG malignant isoform, calcium and parathyroid hormone. Preceding the study, approval was obtained from the institutional research ethical committee. Analysis was by descriptive statistics and testing of hypothesis. A p-value of <0.05 (two-tailed) was used to establish statistical significance. Results: Out of the 20 cases, 10 were primary hyperparathyroidism and the remainder were parathyroid carcinomas. The urinary HCG $6.1{\pm}0.6$ fmol/mgCr was with in normal range in benign hyperthyroidism but was markedly elevated in three cases of malignant hyperparathyroidism (maximum value of excretion in urine for HCG was 2323 fmol/mgCr). The excretion of malignant isoform of HCG in urine was 0 in benign hyperparathyroidsm and in four cases of malignant hyperparathyroidism which fell into the category of persistantly low HCG. The maximum excretion of the malignant isoform of HCG in urine was 1.8, in the category of very high HCG. Calcium and parathyroid hormone were mildly raised in benign parathyroidism, while parathyroid hormone was markedly elevated in cases of malignant hyperparathyroidism falling into the category of very high HCG. Conclusions: The excretion of urinary HCG in urine has the ability to distinguish between parathyroid adenomas and carcinomas and thus has potential to become a marker of disease progression in malignant parathyroid disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.95-99
• /
• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between serum levels of anti-M$\ddot{u}$llerian hormone (AMH) and ovarian response to mild stimulation in normoovulatory women and anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Seventy-four cycles of mild stimulation (clomiphene citrate+gonadotropin followed by timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination) performed in normoovulatory women (57 cycles) and anovulatory women with PCOS (17 cycles). Ovarian sensitivity was defined by the number of mature follicles (${\geq}14mm$) on triggering day per 100 IU of gonadotropin. A correlation between ovarian sensitivity and the baseline serum AMH level (absolute or multiples of the median [MoM] value for each corresponding age) was calculated. Correlation between ovarian response and serum AMH level was evaluated. Results: Ovarian sensitivity to mild stimulation was positively correlated with absolute serum AMH (r=0.535, p<0.001) or AMH-MoM value (r=0.390, p=0.003) in normoovulatory women, but this correlation was not observed in anovulatory women with PCOS (r=0.105, p>0.05, r=-0.265, p>0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Ovarian response to mild stimulation is possibly predicted by the serum AMH level in normoovulatory women, but not in anovulatory women with PCOS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.549-558
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine which differences in the source of protein (soy vs casein) and isoflavones in soy protein are responsible for the differential effects of bone marks and hormones in growing female rats. Forty-two 21-day-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups, consuming casein (control group), soy protein isolate (57 mg isoflavones/100 g diet), or soy protein concentrate (about 1.2 mg isoflavones/100 g diet). All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. And bone resorption rate was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, estrogen and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. Diet did not affect weight gain and mean food intake. Food efficiency ratio was lower in the soy protein groups. The soy isolate group had a higher ALP and osteocalcin concentration and lower crosslinks value than the casein group. Therefore, the soy isolate groups had a higher bone formation/resorption ratio than the casein group. And, the soy group had significantly higher growth hormone than the casein group. The findings of this study suggest that soy protein and isoflavones are beneficial for bone formation in growing female rats. Therefore, exposure to these soy protein and isoflavones early in life may have benefits for osteoporosis prevention.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2013

This study aims to investigate changes in plasma lipid concentrations and appetite-regulating hormone levels after a 4% body fat reduction using a 9-week intervention involving aerobic exercise, a fat-oxidizing agent, and diet limitation. After the 9-week intervention, the aerobic exercise plus hydroxycitric acid (EX+HCA), exercise (EX), and diet limitation (DIET) groups achieved the target 4% body fat reduction from the baseline value. None of the plasma lipid indicators showed significant intergroup differences, indicating that plasma lipid levels are not influenced by body weight regulation. With regard to appetite-regulating hormones, no significant intergroup differences were observed in glucose, insulin, or glucagon-like peptide-1 levels, unlike ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin levels in particular tended to decrease in the DIET group and increase in the HCA+EX and EX groups. Leptin levels significantly decreased in the HCA+EX and EX groups, whereas no differences were observed in the DIET group. Such results indicate that exercise alone without the administration of obesity diet supplements induces elevation in ghrelin levels and reduction in leptin levels, but that diet restriction alone does not influence changes in leptin levels. Taken together, we could not confirm any synergic effects arising from the use of a fat-oxidizing agent during an exercise program to control body weight. Furthermore, diet limitation unsupported by exercise had no effect on muscle mass reduction or appetite-regulating hormone levels; thus, it is not recommended as an effective body weight control method.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate long-term local control rate and toxicity in patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for pituitary adenomas. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients treated with EBRT for pituitary adenoma at Korea University Medical Center from 1996 and 2006. Thirty-five patients had hormone secreting tumors, 25 patients had non-secreting tumors. Fifty-seven patients had received postoperative radiotherapy (RT), and 3 had received RT alone. Median total dose was 54 Gy (range, 36 to 61.2 Gy). The definition of tumor progression were as follows: evidence of tumor progression on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, worsening of clinical sign requiring additional operation or others, rising serum hormone level against a previously stable or falling value, and failure of controlling serum hormone level so that the hormone level had been far from optimal range until last follow-up. Age, sex, hormone secretion, tumor extension, tumor size, and radiation dose were analyzed for prognostic significance in tumor control. Results: Median follow-up was 5.7 years (range, 2 to 14.4 years). The 10-year actuarial local control rates for non-secreting and secreting adenomas were 96% and 66%, respectively. In univariate analysis, hormone secretion was significant prognostic factor (p = 0.042) and cavernous sinus extension was marginally significant factor (p = 0.054) for adverse local control. All other factors were not significant. In multivariate analysis, hormone secretion and gender were significant. Fifty-three patients had mass-effect symptoms (headache, dizziness, visual disturbance, hypopituitarism, loss of consciousness, and cranial nerve palsy). A total of 17 of 23 patients with headache and 27 of 34 patients with visual impairment were improved. Twenty-seven patients experienced symptoms of endocrine hypersecretion (galactorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, decreased libido, gynecomastia, acromegaly, and Cushing's disease). Amenorrhea was abated in 7 of 10 patients, galactorrhea in 8 of 8 patients, acromegaly in 7 of 11 patients, Cushing's disease in 4 of 4 patients. Long-term complication was observed in 4 patients; 3 patients with cerebrovascular accident, 1 patient developed dementia. Of these patients, 3 of 4 received more than 60 Gy of irradiation. Conclusion: EBRT is highly effective in preventing recurrence and reducing mass effect of non-secreting adenoma. Effort to improve tumor control of secreting adenoma is required. Careful long-term follow-up is required when relatively high dose is applied. Modern radiosurgery or proton RT may be options to decrease late complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.387-391
• /
• 2015

Background: Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) and bone scintigraphy (BS) are widely used for the detection of bone involvement. The optimal imaging modality for the detection of bone metastases in hormone receptor positive (+) and negative (-) groups of breast cancer remains ambiguous. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients with breast cancer, who had undergone both 18F-FDG-PET/CT and BS, being eventually diagnosed as having bone metastases, were enrolled in this study. Results: 18F-FDG-PET/CT had higher sensitivity and specificity than BS. Our data showed that 18F-FDGPET/CT had a sensitivity of 93.4% and a specificity of 99.4%, whiel for BS they were 84.5%, and 89.6% in the diagnosis of bone metastases. ${\kappa}$ statistics were calculated for 18F-FDGPET/CT and BS. The ${\kappa}$-value was 0.65 between 18F-FDG-PET/CT and BS in all patients. On the other hand, the ${\kappa}$-values were 0.70 in the hormone receptor (+) group, and 0.51 in hormone receptor (-) group. The ${\kappa}$-values suggested excellent agreement between all patient and hormone receptor (+) groups, while the ${\kappa}$-values suggested good agreement in the hormone receptor (-) group. Conclusions: The sensitivity and specificity for 18F-FDG-PET/CT were higher than BS in the screening of metastatic bone lesions in all patients. Similarly 18F-FDG-PET/CT had higher sensitivity and specificity in hormone receptor (+) and (-) groups.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.150-155
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this report is to evaluate effect of Korean medical treatment on idiopathic gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty (G-DPP) patient received herbal medicine. We administered Aesopjiyoun-tang remedy to idiopathic G-DPP and analyzed the delay effect by hormonal value and radiographs; the height growth effect by measurement of height. After Korean medical treatment, suppression effect to peak-Luteinizing Hormone level (LHL) is 14.39IU/L to 10.9IU/L for 13month, growth effect to height value is 11cm/13month; and change of mean growth velocity (MGV) is 6.08cm/year to 10.06cm/year. The gain in height by treatment is 3.98cm/year. The result suggests Aesopjiyoun-tang can be an effective treatment for G-DPP. Herbal medicine can be used as an alternative treatment in place of the GnRH treatment.