• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.114-126
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• 2019

This paper introduces three ways to determine host-guest complexation of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with homocysteine (Hcy). After preincubating Hcy and cysteine (Cys) with CB[7], Ellman's reagent (DTNB) was used to detect Hcy and Cys. Only Cys reacted with DTNB and Hcy gave a retarded color change. This suggests that the -SH group of Hcy is buried inside CB[7]. Human cystathionine ${\gamma}-lyase$ (hCGL) decreased the level of Hcy degradation after preincubating Hcy and CB[7]. These results suggest that the amount of free Hcy available was decreased by the formation of a Hcy-CB[7] complex. The immunological signal of anti-Hcy monoclonal antibody was decreased significantly by preincubating CB[7] with Hcy. The ELISA results also show that ethanethiol group ($-CH_2CH_2SH$) of Hcy, which is an epitope of anti-Hcy monoclonal antibody, was blocked by the cavity in CB[7]. Overall, CB[7] can act as a host by binding selectively with Hcy, but not Cys. The calculated half-complexation formation concentration of CB[7] was 58.2 nmol using Ellman's protocol, 97.9 nmol using hCGL assay and 87.7 nmol using monoclonal antibody. The differing binding abilities of Hcy and Cys towards the CB[7] host may offer a simple and useful method for determining the Hcy concentration in plasma or serum.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.451-461
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the age-related changes of cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammatory markers in non-obese Korean women. Subjects were 112 women over 20 years old with body mass index (BMI) less than $30 kg/m^2$ and were divided into 3 groups (< 40 years, $40{\sim}59$ years, ${\ge}60$ years). Mean weight and BMI in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the other 2 younger groups (p < 0.05). Mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (BAR) in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the youngest group (p < 0.05), and mean HDL-cholesterol of the oldest group was significantly lower than that of the youngest group (p < 0.05). The older-aged group showed significantly higher mean values of atherogenic index (AI) and LDL/HDL ratio (p < 0.05) than the respective younger-aged group, and AI was significantly correlated with age, nitric oxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.01). In addition, mean vascular cell adhesion molecule-l (VCAM-1) tended to be higher in the older-aged group than the younger group. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, a proinflammatory maker, was significantly positively correlated with serum homocysteine, a cardiovascular disease risk factor (p < 0.01). In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between C-reactive protein and BAR (p < 0.01). Overall results suggested that the aging might affect the increase of cardiovascular disease risk factors including the serum lipid profiles, weight and BMI, and age-related increases of weight and BMI might play a role in changes in certain biomarkers of inflammation. (Korean J Community Nutrition 14(4) : 451${\sim}$461, 2009)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2014

Various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) especially enzyme-inducing AEDs might be associated with increased vascular risk, through impairment of the endogenous antioxidative ability which may trigger oxygen-dependent tissue injury. Lamotrigine (LTG) a non-enzyme-inducing AED has scarce information regarding its effects on oxidative stress. The present study aimed to study the possible modulation of vascular risk factors of epileptogenesis by LTG, in a rat model of kindling seizure induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Four groups of male Wister rats were used; vehicle control group, PTZ group (alternate day PTZ, 30 mg/kg, i.p), LTG/PTZ group (LTG 20 mg/kg/day p.o and alternate day PTZ) and LTG group. The study period was 5 weeks. Lipoproteins and total homocysteine (tHcy), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. Aortic endothelial function study and histopathological examination of the rats' brains, aortas and coronaries were conducted. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), tHcy, MDA, GSH levels were significantly higher in epileptic rats than normal controls rats. A decrease in HDL-cholesterol with high atherosclerotic index was also demonstrated. The administration of LTG improved the PTZ-kindled seizures. It produced a significant decrease in TC, TG and LDL-cholesterol, MDA, aortic GSH and increase in HDL-cholesterol with no significant effect on serum GSH and tHcy levels. LTG improved endothelium-dependent relaxation, decreased hippocampal neurodegenerative changes and atherosclerotic changes of aortas and coronaries. LTG decreased seizures severity, hippocampal damage and improved vascular risk markers in this rat model of kindling seizures.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.394-395
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• 2002

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2013

Subclinical vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency is common in the elderly worldwide. We investigated the change of serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration with aging and compared anthropometric data and clinical health indicators between normal (${\geq}$ 340 pg/mL) and low (< 340 pg/mL) serum vitamin $B_{12}$ groups in 470 Korean women aged 65 years and over living in a rural area. Serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration showed inverse correlation with age (r = -0.0992, p < 0.05). The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to the low $B_{12}$ group, however, no difference in mean corpuscular volume was observed between the two groups. The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly lower serum homocysteine concentration (p < 0.01) and prevalence of vitamin D (p < 0.01) or folate deficiency (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (T-score) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the normal $B_{12}$ group, compared with that in the low $B_{12}$ group, and showed positive correlation (r = 0.1490, p < 0.01) with serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration after adjusting for age, body weight, and body mass index. No differences in anthropometric data, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, it could be suggested that older female adults with normal serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level would be less anemic and osteoporotic and more resistant to hyperhomocysteinemia associated chronic diseases than those with low serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effects of cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum on the lipid accumulation and body weight reduction in C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and assigned to one of these groups; normal chew diet(Nor) group, high-fat diet(HFD) group, HFD plus spores of Ganoderma lucidum 800 mg/kg/day (HFD + GS/B) group, HFD plus cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum 400 mg/kg/day (HFD + BGS/A) group and finally HFD plus cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum 800mg/kg/day (HFD + BGS/B). The experimental groups which were treated oral co-administration with cell-wall broken(or original) spores of Ganoderma lucidum and HFD significantly attenuated accumulative body weight gain, compared with HFD group. Administration of these experimental materials also resulted in significant reduction not only the serum levels of total cholesterol, homocysteine but also the lipid accumulation in liver tissue. But in the almost of results the cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated superior than the original one. These results indicate that cell-wall broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum may inhibit the lipid accumulation in blood as well as liver tissue. Therefore it may be a valuable candidate for the therapy preventing obese induced hyperlipidemic symptoms.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.174-177
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• 2014

Isolated methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a group of autosomal recessive inborn errors of metabolism caused by impaired activity of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase (MCM). Mutations in the gene encoding MCM (MUT ) is the most common cause of isolated MMA. In this report, we identify an asymptomatic 15 days old female who had elevated C3-acylcarnitine (C3) in the newborn screening. Her serum homocysteine was normal and urine methylmalonic acid was increased that suggested isolated MMA. She was maintained on a low-protein diet and carnitine supplementation. At 3 months of age, she was still asymptomatic and had normal growth. We analyzed MUT gene mutations. Two heterozygote mutations in the MUT gene were identified including c.323G>A and c.1672+2T>C (IVS8(+2)T>C. Among these, c.1672+2T>C (IVS8(+2)T>C) have not been described previously.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2006

We evaluated the relations among exposure and urinary levels of Cr, folate, vitamin $B_{12}$ and Hcy levels in the workers chronically exposure to Cr. Subjects were 104 male employees, 65 workers exposed to Cr in 9 electroplating plants and 39 office workers who had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous substances including Cr. The geometric mean(GM) of Cr in workplace was $0.069{\pm}0.101mg/m^3$ and urinary Cr was $0.483{\pm}0.394mg/g$ creatinine and airborne Cr concentration was significantly correlated to the urinary concentration of Cr(r=0.900, p=0.000). The geometric mean concentration of urinary Cr in control group was $0.301{\pm}0.255mg/g$ creatinine. In comparing the workers exposed to Cr with controls, significantly higher mean plasma levels were found of Hcy($11.3{\pm}4.9$ vs $9.4{\pm}4.7{\mu}mol/{\ell}$, p=0.05), but vitamin $B_{12}$ levels ($181.8{\pm}68.7$ vs $216.0{\pm}64.3nmol/{\ell}$, p=0.01) was significantly decreased. Hcy concentrations correlated positively with airborne Cr concentrations(r=0.287, p=0.004) and urinary Cr concentrations(r=0.244, p=0.015) but folate concentrations correlated negatively with airborne(r=-0.234, p=0.020) and urinary Cr concentrations(r=-0.640, p=0.090), respectively. No correlations were observed between vitamin $B_{12}$, airborne and urinary Cr concentrations. Also, Hcy concentrations correlated positively with vitamin $B_{12}$(r=0.295, p=0.0020 and negatively with folate concentrations(r=-0.196, p=0.046). The various biological(i.e. age and serum indicates) or lifestyle factors(i.e. medication, smoking, alcohol and coffee intake), also taken into account as potential confounders, did not influence the correlations found. Thus, this study found evidence that Cr might be associated with elevated plasma levels of Hcy. Furthermore, elevated plasma levels of Hcy were significantly associated with folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.745-752
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• 2005

Purpose : Adolescent obesity is known to be associated with complications such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and insulin resistance. We measured the common carotid artery by ultrasound as a predictor of atherosclerosis, and investigated the relationship between carotid artery parameters and serum cytokines in obese adolescents. Methods : Twenty-nine obese adolescents(16-17 years old, obesity index>130 percent) and twentyseven normal controls were included. Obesity index and body mass index were calculated from their height and weight. Skin fold thickness was measured at the triceps, and fat mass and fat distribution by bioelectrical impedence analysis. Blood pressure was measured at resting state and serum lipid, insulin, and homocysteine levels after a 12-hour fasting period. Intimal wall thickness, systolic and diastolic diameters of the common carotid artery were measured by ultrasound, and compliance and distensibility calculated by equation. Results : Systolic and diastolic diameters of the carotid artery significantly correlated with arm circumference, body mass index, fat distribution and fat mass. The higher systolic blood pressure was, the larger systolic and diastolic diameter. The higher diastolic blood pressure was, the larger carotid intimal thickness. Insulin levels had positive correlations with systolic, diastolic diameters and serum homocysteine level with intimal thickness. Conclusion : The carotid artery diameter significantly increased with the degree of obesity and blood pressure. The carotid intimal wall thickness significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure. Measurement of carotid artery thickness, insulin and homocysteine levels might be useful to predict the development of coronary artery disease.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1049-1053
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (Du-Zhong) as a main ingredient in a mixture of various medicinal herbal extracts on blood pressure, serum lipid concentrations, and hematological variables in hypertensive patients. After 4 weeks on drinking the mixed medicinal herbal teas, systolic blood pressure remarkably decreased from 167.14 to 134.86 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 100.00 to 87.10 mmHg. In terms of serum lipid profiles, there were no differences in total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol level, and atherogenic index, However, the level of triglycerol was significantly reduced from 237.1 before the experiment to 145.00 mg/dL after 4 weeks on drinking the mixed medicinal herbal teas. Serum triglyceride were remarkably reduced from 237.1 to 145.00 mg/dL in the hypertensive patients who had taken the combined medicinal herbal extracts. Compared with data obtained from the patients before the experiment, there were no differences in hematological variables (RBC, WBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, platlets and homocysteine) after the 4 weeks experiments, but mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly increased by 2.70% (p<0.05) in the blood samples. Based on these findings, it can be presumed that the examined mixed medicinal herbal tea may be effective in lowering blood pressure and in increasing mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration due to reduced serum triglyceride levels in hypertension patients.