• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1662-1667
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• 2011

Anthocyanins belong to a group of flavonoid compounds and are well known for their various health beneficial effects, which include antioxidative activities. Among them, the major anthocyanins isolated from seed coat of black soybean (Glycine max L.) were previously characterized as glycosides containing glucopyranose. Asthma is an allergic disease that is strongly associated with various immune cells, including basophils and mast cells. Eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells play important roles in allergic asthma through the release of inflammatory mediators such as asthma-specific T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines and subsequent amplification of asthma symptoms via degranulation. Rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells are the most common in vitro models for evaluating allergic reactions. In this study, we examined the effects of anthocyanin from seed coat of black soybean on antigen-stimulated degranulation and Th2 cytokine production in RBL-2H3 cells. Cell degranulation was evaluated by measuring the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase. ${\beta}$-Hexosaminidase release and Th2 cytokine production in RBL-2H3 cells was much higher upon stimulation with IgE-antigen complex than those in untreated control cells. Anthocyanins significantly suppressed IgE-antigen complex-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and inhibited IgE-antigen complex-mediated interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in RBL-2H3 cells. These findings suggest that anthocyanins from seed coat of black soybean effectively inhibit allergic reactions and may have beneficial effects against allergic asthma.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.14-29
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• 2013

Objectives: Samul-tang and Rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L. have been frequently used in gynecologic disease. The purpose of the present study is to explore the behavioral and neurobiological effects of Samul-tanggahyangbuja (SGH) on ovariectomized rats and to form a basis for clinical treatment. Methods: Ovariectomized rats were repeatedly stressed for over 2 weeks. After orally medicated with SGH (200 or 400 mg/kg/day), the anxiety response was tested using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) in rats. The serum levels of estradiol and IL-4, and immunohistochemical changes of IL-4 in the Locus coeruleus (LC) and Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN) were measured. Results: 1. In the EPM, SGH 400 mg significantly increased time spent on the open arms and decreased time spent on the closed arms, compared with the control group (p<0.05). 2. SGH tended to increase numbers of crossings in the open and closed arms in the EPM. However, it did not reach statistical significance. 3. SGH significantly increased the serum levels of estradiol compared with the control group (p<0.05). 4. SGH 400 mg significantly increased the serum levels of IL-4 compared with the control group (p<0.05). 5. IL-4 immunoreactivity was reduced in the control group compared with the normal group (p<0.05). However, SGH groups (200 and 400 mg) did not produce any significant effects on levels of IL-4 in the LC and PVN. Conclusions: These results suggest that SGH possesses the anti-depressant and immuno-modulatory effects on ovariectomized rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

A officinal mushroom, Phellinus linteus (PL) has been known to exhibit potent biological activities including antioxidative and anticancer effect. PL is consumed as a type of powder or extract for the purpose of health promotion and disease treatment. Recently superfine PL products was commercialized according to the development of pulverizing technology such as nanomill, so the evaluation of food safety is suggested. This study was conducted to evaluate the food safety of superfine PL (SPL) through hematological, biochemical and histological examination in mice as compared with fine PL (FPL). In the particle size distribution in volume after nanomill processing, the mean diameter of SPL and FPL particles was 11.78 ${\mu}m$ and 216.1 ${\mu}m$, and d (0.5), the particle diameter measured at 50% of distribution was 5.5 ${\mu}m$ and 147.9 ${\mu}m$, respectively. As the result of body weight, food intake and the weight of organs, SPL group didn't show any statistical difference compared with FPL group and normal group (N). Hematological and biochemical values were also involved in the normal range, although ALT (N vs. FPL, P<0.001) and BUN (N vs. FPL, P<0.01; N vs. SPL, P<0.01) showed significance compared with N group but there are no significance between FPL and SPL group. In the result of histological examination with liver, kidney, spleen, and small and large intestine, abnormal findings such as inflammatory reaction and histological changes were not observed. Our results suggest that the oral intake of SPL diet is not harmful to the animal in the hematological, biochemical and histological aspects although particle size was reduced to the level of superfine. However, further study will be necessary to confirm the histological safety in relation to the gastrointestinal contact of superfine particles in the case of large amount and long-term intake.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.669-674
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• 2005

Background: There are several studies that report the relationship between leukocytosis and cardiovascular disease mortality. Most of these studies stand on the basis that atherosclerosis is mediated by inflammatory process. By the same token, preoperative white blood cell count is suggested as an independent predictable factor of postoperative mortality and morbidity in coronary artery bypass grafting. The purpose of this study is to define the influence of preoperative white blood cell count on postoperative morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and Method: The medical records of the 133 patients who had undergone isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at Inha University Hospital from 1996 to 2003 were reviewed. Patients were evenly divided into four groups, and named as group A, B, C, and D respectively based on their preoperative white blood cell count in ascending order. The number of patients in each group were 33 with exception of 34 in group A. The range of white blood cell count were from $1.3\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;5.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;A,\; from\;6.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;7.0\times10^3/{\mu}L\;in\;group\;B,\;from\;7.1\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group C, and from $8.9\times10^3/{\mu}L\;to\;16.9\times10^3/{\mu}L$ in group D. Result: The number of patients with recent myocardial infarction was 0 in group A, $2(6.1\%)$ in group B, $4(12.1\%)$ in group C, and $8(24.3\%)$ in D group, showing proportional increase to the white blood cell count (p<0.01). There were six postoperative deaths; $1(2.9\%)$ in group A, $1(3.0\%)$ in group B, $2(2.6\%)$ in group C, and $2(6.1\%)$ in group D (p=0.44), showing no significant difference between the groups. Postoperative wound infection occurred in 3 patients; all 3 patients were in group D, showing that postoperative wound infection is closely related to the preoperative white blood cell count. Conclusion: The association between preoperative white blood cell count and postoperative mortality could not be defined. The incidence of postoperative wound infection was found to be proportional to the preoperative white blood cell counts.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.565-577
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• 2017

Purpose: There have been limited studies investigating the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), metabolic diseases, and dietary factors in Korean adults. Here, we examined the association between nutrient intake and serum hsCRP among Korean adults. Methods: Using data on 2,624 healthy Korean adults (1,537 women and 1,087 men) from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary factors were analyzed once the subjects were grouped into either sex, age, or BMI. Nutrient intake was evaluated using the dietary data obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Based on the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association, hsCRP level was classified as HCRPG (High CRP Group, hsCRP > 1 mg/L) and LCRPG (Low CRP Group, hsCRP ${\leq}1mg/L$). Proc surveyreg procedure was performed to examine the associations between nutrient intake and hsCRP after adjustment for potential confounding variables. Results: The average hsCRP level of healthy Korean adults was $0.95{\pm}0.03mg/L$ ($0.97{\pm}0.04mg/L$ in men, $0.92{\pm}0.05mg/L$ in women). Obese subjects had significantly higher hsCRP than non-obese subjects in both sexes. The hsCRP level was positively associated with current smoking, physical inactivity, BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure and inversely associated with HDL-cholesterol. LCRPG had significantly higher intake of dietary fiber compared to HCRPG in women. High hsCRP level was associated with more dietary cholesterol intake but less omega-3 fatty acid intake among subjects aged ${\geq}50y$. HCRPG of obese subjects had higher intakes of fat and saturated fatty acid than LCRPG. Conclusion: The hsCRP level is closely associated with several lifestyle variables and nutrient intake in healthy Korean adults. Individuals with high hsCRP level show low intakes of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids but high intakes of dietary fat and cholesterol. Our findings suggest that a potential anti-inflammatory role for nutrients and lifestyle in the Korean adult population.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2009

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) involves use of an initial priming volume which can cause side effects such as hemodilution, transfusion, inflammatory reaction and edema. Hence, there have been efforts made tore-duce the initial priming volume. We compared this traditional method to a CPB method that uses a minimized priming volume (MPV). Material and Method: For 97 patients who underwent congenital cardiac surgery between July 2007 to June 2008, we discussed each case and decided which method to use. We reviewed the medical records and cardiopulmonary bypass sheets of the patients. Result: We used a MPV method for 46 patients, and a traditional method for the other 51. There were no significant differences in preoperative and intraoperative characteristics between the two groups, such as body weight, age, cardiopulmonary bypass time, lowest body temperature, etc. However, the priming volume was much smaller in the MPV group than the traditional group (p<0.001). The volume of initially mixed packed RBC was also much smaller in the MPV group (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative mortality and neurologic complications. Conclusion: We could significantly reduce the initial priming volume and initially mixed pRBC volume with the revised CPB method. We suggest that this method be used more widely for congenital cardiac surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic type II SLAP repair in non-athletes, and to compare the clinical outcomes between those who had isolated type II SLAP lesion and those who had combined partial thickness supraspinatus tear that did not required a combined repair. Materials and Methods: From July 2005 to January 2007, 142 consecutive type II SLAP lesions were treated with arthroscopic surgery. The inclusion criteria for the study were; (1) younger than 50 years old; and (2) non-athletes. Exclusion criteria were; (1) prior surgery, fracture or combined recurrent dislocation history on the affected shoulder; (2) combined full thickness rotator cuff tear or PTST (>50% thickness) patient that needed repair; and (3) combined infection, arthritis or inflammatory disease. Remaining 19 patients meet the criteria. Among them, 13 had combined PTRCT that did not require repair (Group I), and 6 had isolated type II SLAP lesion without combined supraspinatus tear (Group II). The mean age was 36.7 years (29~49 years), mean symptom duration was 39.1 months (3~216 months) and mean follow-up was 19.0 months (12~27 months). In all patients, the range of motion of affected shoulder, pain and function visual analogue scale (PVAS, FVAS), the Constant score and UCLA score were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: In group I, external rotation at side was decreased significantly (p=0.003),but there were no statistical significant change at the remains(p>0.05). And there were no differences between groups (p>0.05). At the final follow-up, all clinical outcome measurements improved after surgery with statistical significance (p<0.05): UCLA score, $22.8{\pm}5.2$ to $32.8{\pm}2.1$; Constant score, $79.4{\pm}8.6$ to $94.9{\pm}4.3$; PVAS $5.4{\pm}2.7$ to $1.1{\pm}1.4$; FVAS $63.2{\pm}15.3$ to $93.4{\pm}7.3$. But, in group comparison of the mean UCLA score and Constant score, there were no statistical significant differences between two groups. Conclusion: Arthroscopic repair of type II SLAP lesion provided good clinical outcomes in nonathletic population. Combined partial thickness supraspinatus tear does not seem to hamper the final outcome at minimal 1 year follow-up.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

Purpose: Several factors including prolonged inflammatory response are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The clinical findings can be explained by an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$ ). We investigated the relationship between susceptibility to BPD and TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms to identify genetic factors of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight preterm infants who had developed BPD and 55 controlled infants with a birth weight <1,500 g were analyzed for TNF-$\alpha$ genotypes. The alleles of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene were determined using $Taqman^{(R)}$-based allelic discrimination assays. Results: Gestational age ($27^{+5}{\pm}2^{+0}$ wk vs. $29^{+2}{\pm}1^{+4}$ wk, P<0.0001) and birth weight (990${\pm}$270 g vs. 1,220${\pm}$230 g, P<0.0001) were lower in the BPD group compared to the control group. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (71.1% vs. 49.1%, P=0.035) and patent ductus arteriosus (71.1% vs. 50.9%, P=0.052) was higher in the BPD group compared to the control group. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes of five promoter sites (-1031/-863/-857/-308/-238) of TNF-$\alpha$ gene did not show differences between the BPD group and the control group. Conclusion: TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms are not associated with susceptibility to BPD in Korean preterm infants.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2002

We have compared(using the same series of experimental tissue samples) the levels of proteolytic enzyme activities and free radical-induced protein damage in synovial fluid from RA and CPH cases. Many protease types showed significantly increased (typically by a factor of approximately 2-3-fold) activity in RA, compared to normal rats. However, CPH significantly reduced the cytoplasmic enzyme activities of arginyl aminopeptidase, leucyl aminopeptidase, pyroglutamyl aminopeptidase, tripeptidyl aminopeptidase, and proline endopeptidase to almost about 1/10 each. For the Iysosomal proteases, synovial fluid samples from RA rats, CPH significantly reduced the enzyme activities of cathepsin B, dipeptidyl aminopeptidase I and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II. In extracellular matrix degrading(collagenase, tissue elastase) and leukocyte as sociated proteases (leukocyte elastase, cathepsin G), CPH decreased these enzyme activities of collagenase, tissue elastase and leukocyte associated elastase in RA. In cytoplasmic and lysosomal protease activities in plasma from RA. CPH and normal plasma samples were not significantly different, suggesting that altered activity of plasma proteases (particularly those enzymes putatively involved in the immune response) is not a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of RA. In addition, the level of free radical induced damage to synovial fluid proteins was approximately twice that in RA, compared with CPH. CPH significantly decreased the level of ROS induced oxidative damage to synovial fluid proteins (quantified as protein carbonyl derivative). Therefore we conclude that both proteolytic enzymes and free radicals are likely to be of equal potential importance as damaging agents in the pathogenesis of inflammatory joint disease, and that the design of novel therapeutic strategies for patients with the latter disorder should include both protease inhibitory and free radical scavenging elements. In addition, the protease inhibitory element should be designed to inhibit the action of a broad range of protease mechanistic types (i.e. cysteine-, metallo- and serine- proteinases and peptidases). However, increased protein damage induced by ROS could not be rationalised in terms of compromised antioxidant total capacity, since the latter was not significantly altered in RA synovial fluid or plasma compared with CPH.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.790-795
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• 2012

In this study, the general components and minerals of fermented Curcuma longa L. (FC) by Aspergillus oryzae were examined as well as the hepatoprotective effects of FC on acute hepatotoxicity induced by a single dose of galactosamine (GalN, 650 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). The FC was found to consist of 0.15% moisture, 4.68% crude fat, 4.35% crude protein, 6.92% crude fiber, and 6.83% crude ash. The P, Ca, and Mg levels in FC were also quantitatively analyzed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups; nontreated control, GalN, 150 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin plus GalN, 30 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN, 100 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN, and 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC plus GalN. Pretreatment 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC during 14 days significantly decreased the increased in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, and triglyceride (TG) induced by GalN. Severe liver damage, hepatocellular necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and councilman body necrosis on histopathological liver tissues were observed in GalN treated rats. Administration of 300 mg/kg b.w. of FC significantly decreased the degree of live damage. These results suggest that FC displays hepatoprotective activity and FC was able to lower the TG levels in serum; thus, FC may serve as a useful material for health food and clinical conditions associated with liver disease.