• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1213-1224
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• 2024

Objective: Enterotypes (ETs) are the clustering of gut microbial community structures, which could serve as indicators of growth performance and carcass traits. However, ETs have been sparsely investigated in waterfowl. The objective of this study was to identify the ileal ETs and explore the correlation of the ETs with growth performance and carcass traits in Muscovy ducks. Methods: A total of 200 Muscovy ducks were randomly selected from a population of 5,000 ducks at 70-day old, weighed and slaughtered. The growth performance and carcass traits, including body weight, dressed weight and evidenced weight, dressed percentage, percentage of apparent yield, breast muscle weight, leg muscle weight, percentage of leg muscle and percentage of breast muscle, were determined. The contents of ileum were collected for the isolation of DNA and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The ETs were identified based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing data and the correlation of the ETs with growth performance and carcass traits was performed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Three ETs (ET1, ET2, and ET3) were observed in the ileal microbiota of Muscovy ducks with significant differences in number of features and α-diversity among these ETs (p<0.05). Streptococcus, Candida Arthritis, and Bacteroidetes were the presentative genus in ET1 to ET3, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that Lactococcus and Bradyrhizobium were significantly correlated with percentage of eviscerated yield and leg muscle weight (p<0.05) while ETs were found to have a close association with percentage of eviscerated yield, leg muscle weight, and percentage of leg muscle in Muscovy ducks. However, the growth performance of ducks with different ETs did not show significant difference (p>0.05). Lactococcus were found to be significantly correlated with leg muscle weight, dressed weight, and percentage of eviscerated yield. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a substantial variation in carcass traits associated with ETs in Muscovy ducks. It is implied that ETs might have the potential to serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing duck carcass traits. It would provide novel insights into the interaction of gut microbiota with growth performance and carcass traits of ducks.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in the mass of the muscle. With an increase in life expectancy and chronic illnesses, the incidence of muscle atrophy is increasing and the quality of life of patients is decreasing. Thus, reducing muscle atrophy is of high clinical and socio-economic importance. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used as a traditional medicine in many countries to treat various human illnesses. It has been reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) has diverse biological functions including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity properties, and extension of lifespan. Especially, we have recently reported that KME improves exercise endurance in mice, indicating its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether KME could activate the signaling pathway related to protein synthesis in a mouse model of muscle atrophy. Interestingly, KME efficiently activated the Akt/mTOR pathway, and Akt and mTOR are important signaling hub molecules for the acceleration of protein synthesis in muscle cells. In addition, KME also increased the activity of S6 kinase which is involved in the regulation of muscle cell size. Moreover, the ERK activity, required for transcription of ribosomal RNA for protein synthesis, was also enhanced in KME-treated mouse muscle. These data support the idea that KME increases muscle mass via increased protein synthesis. Our findings also suggest that Korean mistletoe might be a promising candidate for the development of functional foods that are beneficial for preventing muscle atrophy.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.71-83
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effects of Tai Chi Self-help program for Hemophilic Arthritis Patients. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subjects were 48 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery (24 experimental group, 24 control group). The subjects of experimental group were participated in the Tai Chi self-help group program in which 16 times for 8 weeks. The program consisted of health education on hemophilia, Tai Chi exercise, and workshop and its outcomes have been evaluated on WOMAC(Western Ontario and McMaster scale), mobility, pain, fatigue, muscle strength, depression, and quality of life(SF-36). The obtained data were analyzed by using the t-test or Fisher's exact test of PASW 18.0. Results: 1) The score of WOMAC, pain, fatigue, and depression decreased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. 2) The score of mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life increased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Considering these research results, the program could be useful to improve joint movement, strength and psychological condition for patient with hemophilic arthritis, particularly in those who underwent orthopedic surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2007

The purpose of this study were to analysis on quality properties of lower extremity of patient with stroke by the existence of the independent walking. We recruited fourteen adults after stroke(7 male, 7 female; mean age, 64y) for our study. The subjects were divided into two groups; independent walking group(3 male, 3 female) and non-independent walking group(4 male, 4 female). We used in this study included a B-mode ultrasonography scanner with a 7.5 MHz linea probe. During the experiment, the subject was seated in the chair. The echogenicity(density, white area index; WAI) of the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles were measured on both sides of the leg. In both of the density and WAI, the tibialis anterior muscle were significant differences between paratic side and non-paratic side, the independent walking and non-independent walking group. However, in both of the density and WAI of the rectus femoris muscle were only significant differences between paratic side and non-paratic side. This study showed that stroke and the independent walking have influenced on quality properties of lower leg. Especially, the independent walking has influenced on the tibialis anterior muscle.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.115-117
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• 2002

목적: 척추에통증을유발하는주된원인인근육질(Muscle Quality)의저하를향상시키는데있어서비교적안정적인방법(약물혹은수술이아닌요법)을시행하여치료중조직손상과부작용을최소화하면서신속한치료가이루어지는치료방법을찾는데주안점을두었다. 대상및방법: 임상실험기간은6주이었으며대상은평균연령34세(17 $\~$ 42세), 남녀30명,발병된지1년이상지난만성요통환자로서, 치료방법은근육마사지요법과운동요법을선택하였다.1군은근육마사지요법만을시행하였고, 2군은운동요법만을시행하였으며, 3군은근육마사지요법과운동요법을동시에병행하였다. 결과: 유연성측정결과와InBody 3.0에서의체성분결과를토대로분석한결과근육마사지요법만을시행한1군은즉각적인호전현상은보였으나시간경과후6일안으로다시이전의증상이원상복귀되어증상이개선되었다고보기는어려워보였다.한편운동요법만을시행한2군은연령에따른개인차는있었고6주안에만족할만한개선결과를보이지는않았지만증상개선이서서히이루어지고있었다. 그러나근육마사지요법과운동요법을병행한3군은1군과2군의실험결과와2단계이상의통증지수향상이관찰되었다. 결론: 요통의주된원인이되는근육질(Muscle Quality)의향상은근육질에긍정적인영향을주는모든요법중어느한가지를사용하는것보다는보다다각적인치료방법을개발하여적용시킬필요성이있다고사료된다.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the hand acupressure and lumbar strengthening exercise on young adult women with back pain. Methods: The study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects consisted of 37 female young adults (19 persons in the experimental group and 18 persons in the control group). The hand acupressure and strengthening exercise for lower back were developed by the investigator and a hand acupressure expert. The experimental group was exposed to this program 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale, back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life were used as measurement instruments. The data were analyzed with frequency, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS 18.0. Results: In this study, the hand acupressure and strengthening exercise showed siginificant effects on the back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, back pain score was not significantly decreased after the program. Conclusion: The study suggests that this program can be applied for the women with low back pain in order to enhance the back muscle strength, flexibility, and quality of life.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to analyze ultrasonography on both sides of gastrocnemius medialis of stroke patient. Methods: In fourteen subjects with stroke, the gastrocnemius medialis(GM) muscle were scanned with ultrasonography at the muscle belly at rest at ankle angles of 0 degree (neutral position) and it were measured with ultrasonography on both sides of the leg. Muscle architecture (thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length, density, white area index) was examined using real-time B-mode ultrasonography with 7.5MHz linear-array prob. Results: Thickness of non-paratic side was significantly thicker than paratic side. Pennation angle of non-paratic side was significantly larger than paratic side. Fascicle length of non-para tic side was significantly smaller than paratic side. Density of non-paratic side was significantly smaller than paratic side. White area index of non-paranc side was significantly smaller than paratic side. Conclusion: This study showed that stroke have influenced on mechanical properties and quality properties of skeletal muscle architecture.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.208-217
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of stress, resilience, focusing manner, and quality of life among burn rehabilitation patients. Furthermore, it seeks to identify factors affecting the quality of life in this patient group. Methods: The participants of this study were 129 burn patients, aged 19 or older, who received treatment at the rehabilitation of a university hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from June 22 to August 31, 2022 through self-report questionnaires covering stress, resilience, focusing manner and quality of life.The data were analyzed using the SPSS 29.0 program. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that education level, cause of burn, area of burn, pain, stress, and focusing manner significantly affected the quality of life, explaining 74.5% of the variance. Conclusion: In particular, focusing manner was a major factor affecting the quality of life in burn rehabilitation patients. Therefore, there is a need to develop intervention programs aimed at increasing focusing manner in this patient group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1504-1510
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• 2013

Native chickens hold a significant share of the market in China. In response to the huge demand from the market, the productivity of Chinese native chickens needs to be improved. Cross breeding is an effective method to increase productivity, although it might affect meat quality. In this study, two pure lines (SD02 and SD03) of Erlang mountainous chickens were hybridized with a yellow feather and faster growing line (SD01). The effect of hybridization on carcass and meat quality (physiochemical and textural traits) was measured in the $F_1$ population at d 91 of age. The hybrids exhibited higher body weight and dressed weight, and amount of semi-eviscerated, eviscerated, breast muscle and abdominal fat (p<0.05). Abdominal fat yield also increased (p<0.05) compared to the offspring of the two pure-lines. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in meat quality traits except for the myofiber diameter and density and the shear force of the breast muscle. Overall, the offspring of cross-lines were similar to pure lines in meat color, pH value, inosinic acid, crude protein, crude fat, dry matter, moisture content and amino acid composition in the breast muscle. These results suggest that productivity can be improved via cross-breeding while maintaining meat quality of the Erlang mountainous chicken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1084-1094
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to select the candidate genes affecting meat quality and preliminarily explore the related molecular mechanisms in the Mashen pig. Methods: The present study explored genetic factors affecting meat quality in the Mashen pig using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). We sequenced the transcriptomes of 180-day-old Mashen and Large White pigs using longissimus dorsi to select differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results: The results indicated that a total of 425 genes were differentially expressed between Mashen and Large White pigs. A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched for biological processes associated with metabolism and muscle development, while a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis showed that DEGs mainly participated in signaling pathways associated with amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and skeletal muscle differentiation. A MCODE analysis of the protein-protein interaction network indicated that the four identified subsets of genes were mainly associated with translational initiation, skeletal muscle differentiation, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Conclusion: Based on the analysis results, we selected glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, malate dehydrogenase 1, pyruvate dehydrogenase 1, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4, and activator protein-1 as candidate genes affecting meat quality in pigs. A discussion of the related molecular mechanisms is provided to offer a theoretical basis for future studies on the improvement of meat quality in pigs.