• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.225-227
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• 2012

The seroepidemiological status of toxoplasmosis was surveyed among the residents of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do by means of ELISA using a crude extract antigen of Toxoplasma gondii. The sera of 1,661 adult residents (866 males and 795 females) were collected and checked for IgG antibody titers, which showed 17.0% positive rate (282 sera). The positive rate was significantly different between the sex; 20.6% for males and 13.1% for females (P<0.05). The positive rates were higher in fifties of males (28.7%) and forties of females (20.0%). This positive rate of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun residents is regarded as the highest among the surveys of different geographical regions of Korea. This high positive rate may due in part to peculiar geographical locality of the surveyed area near the naturally well preserved demilitarized zone (DMZ) or presumably consumption of the pork imported from high endemic nations. Therefore, it is necessary to study further the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.758-771
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• 2020

This study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from 4,264 retail meat samples including beef, pork, and chicken in Korea between 2013 and 2018. A broth microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for S. aureus. Molecular typing by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), was performed on mecA-positive S. aureus strain. S. aureus was isolated at a rate of 18.2% (777/4,264), of which MRSA comprised 0.7% (29 strains). MLST analysis showed that 11 out of the 29 MRSA isolates were predominantly sequence type (ST) 398 (37.9%). In addition, ST72, ST692, ST188, ST9, and ST630 were identified in the MRSA isolates. The spa typing results were classified into 11 types and showed a high correlation with MLST. The antimicrobial resistance assays revealed that MRSA showed 100% resistance to cefoxitin and penicillin. In addition, resistance to tetracycline (62.1%), clindamycin (55.2%), and erythromycin (55.2%) was relatively high; 27 of the 29 MRSA isolates exhibited multidrug resistance. PFGE analysis of the 18 strains excluding the 11 ST398 strains exhibited a maximum of 100% homology and a minimum of 64.0% homology. Among these, three pairs of isolates showed 100% homology in PFGE; these results were consistent with the MLST and spa typing results. Identification of MRSA at the final consumption stage has potential risks, suggesting that continuous monitoring of retail meat products is required.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2022

Carcass vascular rinsing and chilling involves infusing a chilled isotonic solution (98.5% water and a blend of mono- and di-saccharides and phosphates) into the vasculature immediately upon exsanguination. Primary purposes of carcass vascular rinsing are to (1) effectively remove residual blood from the carcass; (2) lower internal muscle temperature rapidly; and (3) optimize pH decline by effective delivery of glycolytic substrates in the rinse solution. Previous studies have revealed that the beef carcass vascular rinsing early postmortem positively affects meat quality, product shelflife, and food safety. Thus, the objective of this review is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physical and biochemical mechanisms associated with beef carcass vascular rinsing, focusing on the relationship between quality attributes (CIE L^*, a^*, b^*; chemical states of myoglobin; oxygen consumption and sarcomere length) and muscle metabolic response to various substrate solutions (Rinse & Chill^®, fructose, sodium phosphate, and dipotassium phosphate) that stimulate or inhibit the rate of glycolysis early postmortem. In addition, this review discusses the absence of metabolite residues (phosphorus, sodium, and glucose) related to the application of the chilled isotonic solution. This review primarily focuses on beef and as such extending the understanding of the mechanisms and meat quality effects discussed to other species associated with vascular rinsing, in particular pork, may be limited.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.141-159
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether a mobile health (mhealth) intervention is effective in reducing weight and changing dietary behavior among employees with overweight and obesity. The study also investigated whether engagement with the intervention affected its effectiveness. Methods: The intervention involved the use of a dietary coaching app, a wearable device for monitoring physical activity and body composition, and a messenger app for communicating with participants and an intervention manager. A total of 235 employees were recruited for a 12-week intervention from eight workplaces in Korea. Questionnaire surveys, anthropometric measurements, and 24-h dietary recalls were conducted at baseline and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, significant decreases in the mean body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, and waist circumference were observed. Furthermore, the consumption frequencies of multigrain rice and legumes significantly increased, whereas those of pork belly, instant noodles, processed meat, carbonated beverages, and fast food significantly decreased compared with those at baseline. The mean dietary intake of energy and most nutrients also decreased after the intervention. When the participants were categorized into three groups according to their engagement level, significant differences in anthropometric data, dietary behaviors, and energy intake were observed following the intervention, although there were no differences at baseline, indicating that higher engagement level led to greater improvements in weight loss and dietary behavior. Conclusions: The intervention had positive effects on weight loss and dietary behavior changes, particularly among employees with higher engagement levels. These results indicate the importance of increasing the level of engagement in the intervention to enhance its effectiveness. The mhealth intervention is a promising model for health promotion for busy workers with limited time.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.479-489
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• 2023

Livestock production depends on the utilization of nutrients, and when this is accomplished, there is accelerated momentum toward growth with a low cost-to-feed ratio. Public concern over the consumption of pork with antibiotic residues in animals fed antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) has paved the way for using other natural additives to antibiotics, such as herbs and their products, probiotics, prebiotics, etc. Numerous feed additives are trending to achieve this goal, and a classic example is vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals represent a relatively small percentage of the diet, but they are critical to animal health, well-being, and performance; both play a well-defined role in metabolism, and their requirements can vary depending on the physiological stage of the animals. At the same time, the absence of these vitamins and minerals in animal feed can impair the growth and development of muscles and bones. Most commercial feeds contain vitamins and trace minerals that meet nutrient requirements recommended by National Research Council and animal feeding standards. However, the potential variability and bioavailability of vitamins and trace elements in animal feeds remain controversial because daily feed intake varies, and vitamins are degraded by transportation, storage, and processing. Accordingly, the requirement for vitamins and minerals may need to be adjusted to reflect increased production levels, yet the information presented on this topic is still limited. Therefore, this review focuses on the role and function of different sources of minerals, the mode of action, the general need for micro and macro minerals in non-ruminant diets, and how they improve animal performance.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.228-243
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the distinctions in dietary and health-related behaviors among Indonesian women who marry Koreans or into multicultural families (MF) and those who marry Indonesians living in Korea (IK) and in Indonesia (II). Methods: The study was performed with 192 subjects using an online questionnaire regarding food choice, dietary and health behavior, and nutrition quotient (NQ). The analysis used Pearson's chi-squared test, the Fisher's exact test, multinomial logistic regression, and the general linear model. Results: The MF group consumed Korean food more than once a day and Indonesian food 1-2 times monthly (p < 0.001). The main challenge for the IK and II groups in consuming Korean food was the presence of pork and the different food flavors (p < 0.001). The MF group tended to have normal body mass index, consumed more vitamin and mineral supplements (p = 0.014), and exercised regularly ≥150 min/week compared to the IK and II groups (p < 0.001). However, the MF group had the highest rate of skipping breakfast (p = 0.040). When evaluating the NQ of the participants, the MF group consumed more vegetables (p = 0.026), mixed grains (p = 0.031), and spicy and salt soups (p = 0.006). The II group consumed more fish (p = 0.005), beans (p = 0.009), and nuts (p = 0.003). The IK group checked the nutrition labels the most (p = 0.005), while their consumption of vegetables, fish, beans, and nuts was lowest. The MF group had a higher balance score, which resulted in a substantially more nutritious food intake compared to the other two groups (p = 0.037). Conclusion: The MF group consumed more vegetables and mixed grains, adequate fish, beans, and nuts, and engaged in longer daily physical activity. However, the IK group had a relatively low-quality diet and nutritional intake status compared to the other two groups, and this needs to be improved in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2024

Toxoplasma gondii, a common protozoan parasite, poses significant public health risks due to its potential to cause toxoplasmosis in humans and can be contracted from pigs, which are considered its critical intermediate host. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii in slaughtered pigs for human consumption, emphasizing the zoonotic implications and the need for improved biosecurity and monitoring practices in pig farming. A total of 1,526 pig samples (1,051 whole blood samples and 384 lung tissue samples from the local slaughterhouse and 91 aborted fetus samples from local farms) were collected throughout the whole country of Korea in 2020. Among them, 6 (0.4%) were found to be infected with T. gondii by nested PCR. When compared by sample type, the prevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in the aborted fetus samples (2.2%, 2/91) than in the blood (0.3%, 3/1,051) and lung tissue samples (0.3%, 1/384). The B1 gene sequence of T. gondii was similar (97.9-99.8%) to that of the other T. gondii isolates. This study represents the first molecular genotyping survey of T. gondii in the lung tissue of fattening pigs and aborted fetuses in Korea. Our findings indicated the importance of adopting preventive measures including the implementation of rigorous farm hygiene protocols and the promotion of public awareness about the risks of consuming undercooked pork. By addressing the gaps in current control strategies and encouraging the One Health approach, this study contributes to the development of more effective strategies to mitigate the transmission of T. gondii from pigs to humans, ultimately safeguarding public health.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2003

A study was conducted to investigate the anthropometric indices, fat distribution, eating habits and levels of daily physical activity based on the body mass index (BMI ; kg/㎡) of 180 female college students. This stady was based on survey 2001 using a questionnaire. The results are as follow ; The mean age, height, weight and BMI were 20.41 ${\pm}$ 1.82 years, 161.86 ${\pm}$ 4.51cm, 53.49 ${\pm}$ 7.02kg, and 20.43 ${\pm}$ 2.65kg/㎡, respectively. The group with BMI of under 20 (the lean group) comprised 48.9% : the group with BMI of 20 to 25 (the normal group) comprised 44.4% and the group with BMI of over 25 (the obese group) comprised 6.7% of the subjects. Even though the lean and the normal groups were determined according to BMI. 12.5% of the lean group and 31.3% of the normal group had more than 25% body fat. Of the students, 11.5% of the lean group, 25.0% of the normal group and 58.3% of the obese group had of more than 0.8 waist/Hip Ratio (WHR). The medical problems suffered by the subjects were constipation (24.4%), gastroenteritis (20.6%), anemia(15.0%) and edema(13.3%), which was a result of their eating habits. Out of all the subjects, 27.2% ingested their meals irregularly, 74.4% skipped breakfast, and 92.4% of the lean group, 89.2% of the normal group and 81.8% of the obese group ingested snacks on a daily basis. Their favorite types of snacks were cookies breads and cakes (33.7%), spicy sliced rice cakes pork sausage and boiled fish cakes (18.5%), fruits (15.2%), juices and sodas (13.5%) and hamburgers and pizzas (3.9%). Their consumption of high calorie and processed foods was high, Of the subjects, 38.9% ate out daily. 45.1% had tried weight loss. Those with large upper bodies comprised 11.5%, large intermediate bodies 18.5% and large lower bodies 69.0%. Most of the students were dissatisfied with their body snaps. Of the subjects, 95.1% exercised irregularly. Daily physical activity tended to increase significantly with an increase in BMI : the lean group's average energy consumption was 1509.40㎉ the normal group's was 1792.21㎉ and the obese group's was 2334.63㎉, which were below the recommended value. This study suggests that the maintenance of an ideal weight, the improvement of eating habits and adequate exercise are needed for female college students to improve their health and nutritional status. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) 21∼28, 2003)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.250-262
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• 2002

This study was conducted to develop a simple flood frequency questionnaire (FFQ) based on the results of contributions of specific floods to absolute intake and between-person variance in nutrients using semi-quantitative FFQ with 93 flood items. The subjects were 554 healthy adults for development of a simple FFQ, and 37 students for a validation test of a developed simple FFQ. The contribution of specific floods to 80% absolute nutrient intake was measured by assessing their percentage in total consumption of a nutrient. To assess the contributions of floods to the between-person variance in the intake of each specific nutrient, stepwise multiple regressions were performed. The number of floods necessary to account for the respective 80% of absolute intake was 11-36, depending on the nutrient, while flower floods (5-16 floods) were required for the corresponding percentage of between-person variation for all nutrients. Important floods for between-person variance include Tangsuyuk (pork) and snacks for energy and fat, fish for protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and snacks for carbohydrates. Spearman correlation coefficients between 93-itemed FFQ and 63-itemed FFQ ranged from 0.91 for vitamin A to 0.99 for fat in the population data used in developing a simple FFQ. Also, the correlation coefficients between the two FFQs were 0.82-7.92 in the population for the validation test. This study suggests that useful information on dietary intake could be obtained using a simple semi-quantitative FFQ in a large-scale dietary survey in Korea.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.273-282
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• 2003

Consumer survey(n=1,343) was carried out to investigate the consumer's perception, purchase behavior and demand on the processed meat products. Most consumers purchased the ham and sausage products once a month (40.73%). Consumers(47.19%) didn’t distinguish between ham and sausage products due to the similarity of meat contents and additives in products. Consumers(72.75%) considered the product label when they purchased whereas 27.25% of consumers were not interested in the product label. Consumers(47.65%) were not satisfied with ham and sausage products because there were too much additives other than meat, there were many similar processed products in kinds and appearance(27.70%) and they could hardly detect meat taste(11.62%). Consumers demanded to produce the ham and sausage products which contain high meat contents(64.04%). Consumers were favored with establishment of the price differential system depending on the quality based on meat contents in the product(83.54%). In conclusion, the establishment of the price differential system depending on quality as well as the quality grading system for processed meat products is needed not only to increase the processed meat market but also increase the pork consumption especially for non-preferred pork portions.