• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 1996

Background : In case of tuberculous pneumonia, differentiation from bacterial lobar pneumonia is sometimes very difficult because clinical symptoms, signs and radiological images are very similar. So we investigated the usefulness of CA125, which is known to increase in tuberculous diseases, in differential diagnosis between tuberculous pneumonia (TBPN) and community acquired bacterial lobar pneumonia (LP). Methods : Serum CA125 level was measured in 20 patients with TBPN (female 12 male 8 : mean age 36.1 years) and 14 patients with LP (female 5 male 9 : mean age 45.1 years) by radioimmunoassay (Centocor(R) CA125 RIA kit). Results : 1) The serum CA125 level in TBPN ($333.7{\pm}283.5\;u/ml$) was higher than in LP ($60.9{\pm}66.2\;u/ml$). (P < 0.05) 2) If we took cut-off value as 195 u/ml in differential diagnosis between TBPN and LP, the sensitivity and specificity of CA125 level in the diagnosis of TBPN were 70% and 93%, respectively. 3) There was no significant difference in serum CA125 level between noncavitary TBPN ($242.1{\pm}76.6\;u/ml$, n=10) and cavitary TBPN ($399.6{\pm}318.4\;u/ml$, n=10). (P > 0.05) 4) Following up of serum CA125 level after initiation of antituberculosis treatment showed rapid decline and approach to near normal range in 6 months. Conclusion : High serum CA125 level (> 195 u/ml) was useful in differential diagnosis of TBPN from LP.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2011

It is controversial whether low calcium intake, commonly associated with osteoporosis, results in calcium accumulation in soft tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of low calcium (Ca) and oxalate (ox) intake on soft-tissue Ca deposits and bone metabolism in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups. The rats were fed experimental diets containing low (0.1%, w/w) or normal (0.5%, w/w) Ca with or without sodium oxalate (1%, w/w); Sham/NCa, Ovx/NCa, Ovx/LCa, Ovx/NCa-ox, Ovx/LCa-ox for 6 weeks. All ovx rats showed a remarkable increase in body and tissue weight, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and decreases in weight, ash, and Ca contents, as well as bone breaking force compared to those in sham rats. Serum Ca concentration was not significantly affected by dietary Ca levels or ox intake. Kidney Ca, ox acid content, and microscopic Ca deposition increased remarkably in the Ovx/LCa-ox group compared to those in the other groups. Ca content in the spleen and aorta also increased significantly, but the weight contents, Ca, bone breaking force, and Ca and oxalic acid in feces decreased significantly in the Ovx/LCa-ox group. Serum parathyroid hormone levels were not significantly different among the groups. These results indicate that low Ca intake decreased bone mineral content and increased Ca deposits in soft tissues, which was aggravated by ox intake in ovx rats. Thus, high ox intake may result in a kidney disorder in patients with osteoporosis who eat a low Ca diet.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.164-167
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• 2011

Objective: There are limited data regarding the significance of elevated serum CA-125 level during IUI cycles, even though it is used widely during the initial evaluation of infertile patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of serum CA-125 levels during IUI cycles. Methods: Among the patients with controlled ovarian stimulation and IUI cycles at Seoul National University Hospital from Jan 2005 through Dec 2009, 92 cases with no identified endometriotic lesion, ovarian tumor, salpingeal lesion, or uterine myoma were selected. To compare the clinical characteristics between the pregnancy group and the non-pregnancy group, the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used. Results: The overall pregnancy rate was 18.5% (17/92). The pregnancy group showed a higher number of follicles 16 mm in diameter ($p$=0.036), endometrial thickness ($p$ <0.001), ampules of gonadotropin ($p$=0.009), and higher body mass index ($p$=0.022) than the non-pregnancy group. No significant difference was observed in the serum CA-125 level or the proportion of patients with CA-125 exceeding 17 IU/mL between the two groups. Conclusion: The prognostic value of serum CA-125 level among infertile patients with IUI cycles is considered limited.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.628-634
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• 2001

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of serum calcium and magnesium level to depression and anxiety symptoms in 66 perimenopausal women. Daily nutrient intakes and dietary sources of calcium were analyzed by convenient me쇙. General status was conducted by a questionnaire whereas the questionnaire of CED-S(the Center for Epidemiological studies-Depression Scale) was used for depression and Spielburger's STAI-S(state-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State) was used for anxiety. Fasting blood samples were collected, and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were measured before and after calcium supplementation. The age distribution of the subjects was 49-55 years. Results indicated that serum calcium concentrations were significantly(P〈0.05) increased to normal ranges after calcium supplementation. Depression and anxiety scores of the subjects with calcium supplementation were significantly(p〈0.05) lower than those before calcium supplementation. There were significantly(P〈0.05) decreased between serum magnesium concentration and depression and anxiety scores, but calcium concentration was not significantly decreased. These results suggest that psychological conditions of perimenopausal women are possibly effected by serum calcium and magnesium levels. More studies are needed to measure the long-term effects of calcium supplementation on psychological conditions in perimenopausal women.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.476-484
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the anthropometric data, nutrient intakes and serum profiles in premenopausal and postmenopausal women living in Gyeonggi-do Province, Republic of Korea. The subjects were 49 premenopausal women and 63 postmenopausal women who are not taking any hormone or cardiovascular drugs. Anthropometric measurements were taken by a trained practitioner and the data for dietary intakes were obtained by a 24-hour recall method. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for the total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and lipoprotein fractions. The mean age of the premenopausal women was $45.17{\pm}3.28$ years and that of the postmenopausal women was 2$62.5{\pm}4.14$ years. The height and weight were $157.86{\pm}$4.35 cm, $58.75{\pm}6.01$ kg in premenopausal women and $156.42{\pm}3.62$ cm, $57.63{\pm}5.38$ kg in postmenopausal women, respectively. WHR (waist hip ratio) in postmenopausal women was significantly higher than that of premenopausal women (p<0.05). There were no differences between the pre-and postmenopausal women in the intakes of energy, protein, fat, Ca, Fe, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E. However carbohydrate and Na intakes in postmenopausal women were significantly higher than those of premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, Ca intake was below and Na intake was extremely high considering KDRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans). Serum triglyceride in postmenopausal women was positively correlated with age, BMI (body mass index) and WHR. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in postmenopausal women showed significantly negative correlations with fiber intake. These results suggest that it is necessary to help postmenopausal women maintain a healthy body weight. Postmenopausal women needs to increase Ca (calcium) intakes and diet quality by decreasing the intakes of Na (sodium). In addition, an adequate intakes of fiber is recommended for postmenopausal women to prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.111-120
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• 2002

Postmenopausal women lose more bone mass than men as a result of estrogen deprivation. The resultant low bone mineral density (BMD) is a major risk factor in the development of osteoporosis. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are main components of bone. The purpose of this study is to investigate nutrient intake and serum osteocalcin, Ca, P and Mg and their correlation to bone mineral density in Korean postmenopausal women residing in rural areas. We conducted 24 hour dietary recalls, anthropometric measurements and blood analysis on 60 postmenopausal women. The BMD of the lumbar spine (L2$\rightarrow$L4) and the femoral neck were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Subjects were assigned to one of three groups:normal (T-score> -1, n=20), osteopenia (-2.5> T-score $\leq$ -1, n=23), and osteoporosis ( T-score $\leq$ -2.5, n=17). The mean age, height, weight and BMI were 62.37 yr, 154.36 cm, 55.28 kg and 23.18 $kg/m^2$ respectively. The mean daily energy and protein intakes were 76.35% and 87.41% of RDA for Koreans. The mean intakes of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were 463.62 mg (66.23% of RDA), 955.32 mg (136.47% of RDA), 345.87 mg respectively. The mean serum levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were 8.76 mg/dl, 3.80 mg/dl, and 2.10 mg/dl, respectively, and there were no significant differences among the three groups. However, the BMD of the femoral neck showed a significantly negative correlation with serum magnesium (p<0.05). To summarize the results, most nutrient intakes (especially calcium) in postmenopausal women did not reach the RDA values for Koreans. Also, increase of serum magnesium levels may be related to bone loss.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.511-516
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• 1993

This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical efforts of old antler extracts on the enzyme activities in serum of galactosamine (GaIN)-induced rats. Male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing the average of 110$\pm$10g were divided into four groups and each group was fed either AIN-76 diet or modified AIN-76 diet with old antler extracts (water extract, neutral extract, ether extract) for four weeks. CaIN (400mg/ kg of body weight) was injected to CaIN treatment groups intraperitoneally on the same day every week. CaIN treatment decreased growth performance of rats. But dietary supplementation of old antler extracts prevented this decrement. Serum aminotransferase activities were increased by CaIN treatment, but this increment was reduced by feeding the old antler extracts, and the effect of water extract was the most prominent of the old antler extracts. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum of CaIN treatment groups were higher than those of control groups and were decreased by old antler extracts supplementation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.661-670
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• 1999

Effects of Ca supplementation on blood pressure(BP) response to dietary Na level were studied in 15 normotensive healthy college women with family history of hypertension. All subjects, randomly divided into 3 groups, ate low Na diet(1816mg/day) prepared in the laboratory during the first 2 weeks and normal Na diet(4064mg/day) of their own home for the next 8 weeks. The one group received daily 1g Ca supplement at both low and normal Na diet periods, the second group took daily 1g Ca supplement only at normal a diet period, and the last group took placebo during both periods. Average Ca and energy intakes at the basal of and during the trial ranged 450-600mg and 1735-1878kcal, respectively. Systolic/diastolic BP was decreased by 9.2-9.8/4.4-4.5 mmHg during low Na diet period and was increased again during next normal Na diet period. However simultaneous Ca supplementation during both low and normal Na diet period suppressed the elevation of systolic/diastolic BP occurred at normal Na diet period. Ca supplementation only at normal Na diet peroid did not affect the BP elevation. The increase of serum Ca and Ca/Mg ratio and the decrease of serum Na and Na/K ratio might be related to the BP lowering effects of Ca supplementation. In conclusion, Ca supplement could attenuate BP elevation induced by increasing Na intake. The BP lowering effect of Ca supplementation was not appeared at low Na intake. Further studies were needed to make it certain. Low Na intake was also confirmed as an effective diet control for lowering blood pressure.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.396-403
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• 2011

Ceramides (Cer) comprise the major constituent of sphingolipids in the epidermis and are known to play diverse roles in the outermost layers of the skin including water retention and provision of a physical barrier. In addition, they can be hydrolyzed into free sphingoid bases such as $C_{18}$ sphingosine (SO) and $C_{18}$ sphinganine (SA) or can be further metabolized to $C_{18}$ So-1-phosphate (S1P) and $C_{18}$ Sa-1-phosphate (Sa1P) in keratinocytes. The significance of ceramide metabolites emerged from studies reporting altered levels of SO and SA in skin disorders and the role of S1P and Sa1P as signaling lipids. However, the overall metabolism of sphingoid bases and their phosphates during keratinocyte differentiation remains not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed these Cer metabolites in the process of keratinocyte differentiation. Three distinct keratinocyte differentiation stages were prepared using 0.07 mM calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) (proliferation stage), 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$ (early differentiation stage) in serum-free medium, or serum-containing medium with vitamin C (50 ${\mu}L$/mL) (late differentiation stage). Serum-containing medium was also used to determine whether vitamin C increases the concentrations of sphingoid bases and their phosphates. The production of sphingoid bases and their phosphates after hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to cells treated with 0.07 mM Ca$^{2+}$, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were not altered after treatment with 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$. However, in keratinocytes cultured in serum-containing medium with vitamin C, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were dramatically higher than those in 0.07- and l.2-mM Ca$^{2+}$-treated cells; however, compared to serum-containing medium alone, vitamin C did not significantly enhance their production. Taken together, we demonstrate that late differentiation induced by vitamin C and serum was accompanied by dramatic increases in the concentration of sphingoid bases and their phosphates, although vitamin C alone had no effect on their production.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 2000

In order to investigate the effects of emitted-qi therapy(EQT) and cold water therapy(CWT) on the inhibition of the blood loss, the protein loss and the electrolyte loss in burned rats. The white blood cell, hematocrit and hemoglobin values in blood, and the total protein, albumin, globulin, $Na^+,\;Cl^-,\;K^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ values in serum were measured. The results were obtained as follows; 1. White blood cell count in blood was significantly increased in CWT group compared with control group. 2. Hematocrit value in bolld was significantly increase in EQT and CWT group compared with control group. 3. Hemoglobin value in blood was significantly increased in CWT group compared with control group. 4. Total protein value in serum was significantly increased in CWT group compared with control group. 5. Albumin value in serum was significantly increased in EQT and CWT group compared with control group. 6. Globulin value in serum tended to be increase in EQT and CWT group compared with control group, but it was not significant. 7. A/G ratio in serum was significantly increased in EQT and CWT group compared with contort group. 8. $Na^+$, value in serum was significantly increased in EQT and CWT group compared with ontrol group. 9. $K^+$, value in serum tended to be increased in EQT group compared with control group, but it was not significant. 10. $Cl^-$ value in serum was significantly increased in EQT and CWT group compared with control group. 11. $Ca^{2+}$ value in serum tended to be increased in EQT and CWT compared with control group, but it was not significant. According to the above results, the EQT and CWT inhibited the blood loss, the protein loss and the electrolyte loss. Therefore, it is considered that the EQT and CWT can be applied to the burn therapy.