• Toxicological Research
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2006

One of the main attractions of treatment with herbal medicine is its apparent lack of side effects compared with the drug therapies used in allopathic medicine. However, evidence from various countries suggest that Asian herbal medicine carry a significant risk of contamination with toxic heavy metals at levels that may seriously threaten health. The aims of this study were to analyze and compare concentrations of heavy metals in urine and hair from 184 patients taking herbal medicines in the form of decoctions and/or pills in comparison to 101 control subjects taking either Western or no medications. Levels of metal concentrations exceeding WHO reference values were observed in a number of hair and urine samples for all subjects. After adjusting for potential confounders, taking decoctions or pills was associated with higher levels of some metals (such as Cu, Pb in urine), as well a higher odds ratio of exceeding the upper limit of reference ranges for Pb, Hg in hair. In contrast, taking decoctions or pills was associated with lower levels of some metals (such as Cu in urine and Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb in hair), suggesting that some herbal medicines may have a chelating effect on heavy metals in the body. Overall, the results obtained in the study show a mixed picture and suggest that heavy metals contamination in herbs is sometimes present, but may also be counteracted by the potential for some herbal medicines to act as chelating agents. Further study must be followed to obtain more concrete evidence.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.980-985
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• 2000

Influences of Japanese green tea powder (GTP) supplementation to commercial diet on laying performance and egg quality were studied by using 60 laying hens. The experimental diet with or without 0.6% GTP was given ad libitum to the birds during the period from 6 to 71 weeks of age. The birds started egg production from 21 wk of age regardless GTP feeding. Body weight, feed intake, egg weight tended to decrease with GTP supplementation, while egg production rate tended to increase. Haugh unit score was significantly increased with GTP, which accompanied with the increased albumen height. These were observed almost throughout the laying period over 50 wk. Gel proportion in thick albumen was decreased as storage time is prolonged, then higher values of the gel proportion were recorded in the eggs from GTP group. Thick albumen of the eggs from GTP-fed layers had more carbohydrate than that from control layers. All these indicate physical stability of thick albumen in the eggs from GTP group. Thiobarbituric acid content of egg yolk tended to remain lower in the eggs from GTP group during 5-10 days of storage at room temperature. Levels of egg yolk cholesterol and yolk lipid were significantly reduced by GTP feeding. There were no significant differences in eggshell weight, shell thickness and shell strength between the two groups. Thyroid gland and liver from hens slaughtered at 71 wk of age did not differ in weight irrespective of GTP feeding. The present results suggest that GTP could modify components of edible part of egg, leading to the characteristics favourable to consumers such as high durability of thick albumen and less cholesterol in yolk, without altering general performance of the layers throughout this year round experiment.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.85-93
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• 1993

Contamination of heavy metals in water and sediments along Mantyeong (river) has reached up to critical level, The object of the study is to dlucidate some macroinvertebrates which inhabit along the river in respect to the modulatory role in reducing the pollution. For the purpose, Scapharca subcrenata(sea shell) which is common in numbers and biomass in the area was collected, and cadmium (Cd) was subjected as a reference metal in the experiment. The seashell was dried and autoclaved, followed by pellet preparation under various concentration of Cd: 50,100,250,500 and 1,500 ug /pellet. Mice were fed for 3 months, althrough last group(5 mice), 1,500 ug/pellet, died within 4 weeksof the administration.MT-Cd in liver and kidney increased in correlation with the amont of Cd concentration in pellet, especially in kidney than in liver. Liver and kidney of the mice showed pathological changes such as cellular infiltration and focal necrosis in liver, and peri-tubular cell infiltration or tubular necrosis etc. The changes were more intensive by amount of the Cd. Overall results in the present study suggest that Cd may eventually combine with soluble-protein forming metalloprotein, then reduce the toxicity of heavy metal, How the formed Mt-Cd is discharged from the kidney and the mechanism shall be the further subject to be clarified.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권11호
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• pp.434-439
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• 2015

Purpose: Kawasaki disease involves acute febrile systemic vasculitis that can cause a variety of symptoms by affecting various organs. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, causes, and prognosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurring in children with Kawasaki disease. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and received inpatient treatment in the Pediatrics Department at one of three university hospitals in Daegu city from February 2012 to September 2012 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, hematological results, echocardiography results, audiometry results, and aspirin and salicylic acid serum levels of the patients were evaluated. Results: Of the 59 children enrolled in the study, three showed mild bilateral SNHL on audiometry tests conducted after 48 hours of defervescence; these patients demonstrated normal patterns of recovery on follow-up tests 8 weeks later. Aspirin serum levels were significantly higher in the SNHL group after 48 hours of afebrile condition with high dose aspirin intake (P=0.034). However, no significant differences were found in other laboratory tests or for fever duration (P>0.05). Upon echocardiography, coronary artery abnormality was observed in 9 cases, but none of these patients showed hearing loss. Conclusion: The results indicate that SNHL in children with Kawasaki disease might occur during treatment of the acute phase; this SNHL usually involves mild bilateral hearing loss and recovers naturally. However, this study suggests that determination of the causes and clinical implications of hearing loss in Kawasaki disease requires long-term follow-up studies with more cases.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.329-338
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• 2013

This study is conducted to compare the problems affecting dietary habits and health status between a long-term exercise group and non-exercise group of males older than 50 years. Most subjects of the two groups consider regular exercise to be the most important factor for maintaining health, and recognize hypertension as the number one concern. The most common nutritional supplement among subjects is multiple vitamins, and sleeping time range from 6~8 hours. Breakfast fasting rate was 15.9% among non-exercise group (NEG), where overeating and eating out rates were higher among exercise group (EG) when comparing to NEG. Fasting rates of breakfast, and consumption rates of milk and dairy products, vegetables such as kimchi, and fruits and fruit juices are higher among the EG. Overeating and eating out rates are lower among NEG, whereas eating rates of proteins like meat, fish, eggs, beans, fried foods, high-fat meats carbonated drinks, ice cream, and salt intakes are higher. Rates of health, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes are higher among EG. Energy intakes among the two groups were below the standard level, Vitamin $B_2$ intake is low in EG, and folic acid and calcium intakes were higher in NEG. The exercising group care more about health, eating habits and nutrient intakes, and low smoking rates are being observed. Thus, specific dietary improvement programs for adult men, are required, and it is necessary to consider the practice of nutrition education.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.17-20
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• 2011

The average life expectancy has continuously increased with the development of medical industry. As women get older, they experience the deficit of estrogen caused by decreased function of ovarian. Specifically, they suffer from temporary fever because of unstable vasomotion and, in the long term experience, degeneration of urogenital organs, tooth loss, arteriosclerosis, demantia, snores and so on. Because of these symptoms the estrogen medical supply is getting required. Along with this, many studies have conducted to find out substitutional medicals without any side effects. This research was carried out to find out such substitutable materials. For the purpose of study, we examined the change of estrogen using the rats fed with the pupa powder immediately before the eclosion, eclosed adult, the pupa extract immediately before the eclosion, and the silkworm powder prepared at $3^{rd}$ day of $5^{th}$ instar. The result showed no significant chance in weight, feeding and water intake quantity among variables. However, the estrogen hormone secretion effects was very high at 73 pg/ml in the rats fed with the freeze-dried powder of the Yeonnokjam male pupa prepared immediately before the eclosion, compared with the control at 59 pg/ml. The next was Yangwonjam male adult at 71 pg/ml.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.339-349
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behavior relative to personality type in young adults, and to offer basic data to apply during nutrition education and counseling. A total of 166 university students performed the MBTI (Mayers-Briggs Type Indicator) test along with questionnaire interviews, and 3 day 24-hr dietary recalls. MBTI personality preferences are presented and separated by 4 types of indices: Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I), Sensing (S) and Intuition (N), Thinking (T) and Feeling (F), and Judgement (J) and Perception (P). More subjects in the I type than the E type had lunch everyday or ate out more than once a week. Compared to the P type, the J type ate a higher proportion of meals with family, and seldom drank alcohol, but a lower proportion had a preference for salty taste. Compared to the N type, the S type had a higher proportion of subjects who consumed large quantities at regular meals as well as when under high amounts of stress. Also, the S type subjects had significantly higher lipid intakes than the N type subjects. Compared to the F type, a higher proportion of the T type subjects ate meals alone but a lower proportion had a dislike for bitter tasting foods. There were no significant differences in total food or energy intakes relative to the different personality types. In conclusion, individual personality type may influence dietary behavior, but additional studies are needed that contain individuals of various ages and include long term dietary surveys.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2008

We located a group of healthy young males (aged $20{\sim}30$) who had been taking a high dose (more than 5 g) of vitamin C daily for more than one year. We observed that this vitamin C group had plasma levels of vitamin C that were more than three times that of the control group. The control group had not taken any additional vitamin C except for that included in their diets. But the vitamin C group showed significantly lower amounts of Cu/ZnSOD, catalase and glutathione-s-transferase and lower activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocyte lysates than the control group. However, there was no difference in the plasma levels of lipid peroxides between the two groups. These results suggest that vitamin C offsets its own contribution to anti-oxidant activity by repressing the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes and also excludes the possibility that vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant in vivo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.615-619
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• 2017

Background: Black ginseng has a more potent biological activity than non-steamed ginseng. We investigated the effects of long-term intake of dietary black ginseng extract (BG) on antioxidant activity in aged mice. We also compared the effects of BG on cognitive deficits with those of white ginseng extract (WG) and red ginseng extract (RG). Methods: Ten-month-old mice were fed an AIN-93G-based diet containing 10 g/kg (low dose, L) or 30 g/kg (high dose, H) WG powder, RG powder, or BG powder for 24 wk. We measured serum lipids, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde levels. Additionally, the protein expression levels of choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter, which are presynaptic cholinergic markers in the cortex and hippocampus of the brain, were measured by western blotting. Results: Triglyceride levels were reduced in all the extract-treated mice, except those in the LBG group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the HBG group were higher than those in the control group. Total cholesterol levels were reduced in the LBG group. Additionally, glucose levels in the HBG group were significantly reduced by 41.2%. There were lower levels of malondialdehyde in the LBG group than in the control group. Furthermore, glutathione reductase activity increased in the HWG group and the HRG group. The protein expression levels of choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter significantly increased in all the ginseng-treated groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that supplementation with the tested ginseng extracts may suppress the cognitive decline associated with aging, via regulation of the cholinergic and antioxidant defense systems.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.75-77
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• 2010

Until now, the main treatment for impotence has been the vasodilator injection, penile implants and etc. Among many methods, most effective way is known to be the medical therapy. The oral drug for an impotence remedy has to be above all, effective to the erection, and second, safety when taking in long-term. However, so far the drug in such condition and sufficiency has not been discovered. Consequently, it is crucial to develop the new medicine, made of natural materials only, without any uncertainty of side effect. The silkworm is very difference in physiological chemical change according to growth stage. Therefore the functional effect shows a very big difference according to preparation method with a growth stage. This research carry out the experiment with the pupa powder immediately before the eclosion, eclosion adult, the pupa extract immediately before the eclosion, and the silkworm powder of 5 instar 3rd day. The result showed not a big chance in weight, feed and water intake quantity. But testosterone hormone secretion effects of the freeze drying powder of the pupa immediately before the eclosion was very high 7.31 ng/ml, compared to 2.37 ng/ml of non treatment and 2.67 ng/ml of alcohol extraction method. As this result, the freeze drying pupa powder of the pupa immediately before the eclosion was confirmed to promote the secretion of the testosterone hormone more than alcohol extraction method of existing.