• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

The changes in osmolality and the gene expression profiles of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) with rapid changes in salinity were compared in the eel (Anguilla japonica), crucian carp (Carassius carassius), and masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou). Fish stocked in freshwater (FW) were abruptly transferred to experimental tanks containing FW, 50% seawater (50% SW), or 100% SW (SW). Blood samples and pituitary glands were collected 2 and 24 hrs after the exposure. No mortality was observed in SW eel (n=6), whereas all of the crucian carp (n=6) and two masu salmon (n=6) exposed to SW died after land 24 hrs, respectively. The PRL mRNA levels of the eel and masu salmon decreased in 50% SW and SW compared to those of the fish kept in FW after 24 hrs, whereas the PRL levels of crucian carp were higher in 50% SW than in FW. Unlike the PRL mRNA levels, the GH mRNA levels of the eel did not differ significantly among three different salinities, while the GH mRNA levels of crucian carp and masu salmon increased significantly in 50% SW and SW after 24 hrs. The serum osmolalities increased marginally in the eel and masu salmon in 50% SW at 24 hrs (19% and 9%, respectively), whereas those of crucian carp increased abruptly in 50% SW (50% increase). These results suggest that the synthesis of PRL and GH is important in relation to the osmoregulatory system with environmental changes in salinity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate chromosomal abnormalities and their correlations with clinical and radiological findings in females with primary amenorrhea (PA). Methods: Detailed forms were recorded for 470 females, including the construction of three-generation pedigrees. Peripheral venous blood was drawn, with informed consent, for cytogenetic analysis. Results: An abnormal karyotype was found in 16.38% of participants. The incidence of structural abnormalities (6.8%) exceeded that of numerical abnormalities (6.15%). Turner syndrome represented 45% of all numerical abnormalities. Furthermore, the Y chromosome was detected in 5% of females with PA. Among the structural chromosomal abnormalities detected (n=32) were mosaicism (25%), deletions (12.5%), isochromosomes (18.75%), fragile sites (3.12%), derivatives (3.12%), marker chromosomes (3.12%), and normal variants (29.125%). An examination of secondary sexual characteristics revealed that 29.6% of females had a complete absence of breast development, 29.78% lacked pubic hair, and 36.88% exhibited no axillary hair development. Radiological findings revealed that 51.22% of females had a hypoplastic uterus and 26.66% had a completely absent uterus. Abnormal ovarian development, such as the complete absence of both ovaries, absence of one ovary, one absent and other streak, or both streak ovaries, was observed in 69.47% of females with PA. Additionally 43.1%, 36.1%, 67.4%, and 8% of females had elevated levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, respectively. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of karyotyping as a fundamental diagnostic tool for assessing PA. The cytogenetic correlation with these profiles will aid in genetic counseling and further management of the condition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 1989

Steroid hormone profiles during luteal phase of clomiphene citrate(CC)/human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG)/human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)-stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)/hMG/hCG-stimulated IVF cycles were compared. In seventy three cycles stimulated with CC/hMG/hCG regimen, follicles were aspirated during exploratory laparotomy and yielded 7 pregnancies, and in 83 cycles stimulated with FSH/hMG/hCG regimen, follicles were aspirated by laparoscope and made 13 pregnancies. Serum estradiol($E_2$) and progesterone($P_4$) levels were determined on days 2, 5, 7, and 9 after follicle aspiration. The FSH/hMG/hCG regimen was more effective than the CC/hMG/hCG regimen in folliculogenesis, ie, ovarian stimulation, follicular phase $E_2$ peak levels, oocyte maturation, and the number of retrieved oocytes. There was no significant difference between luteal serum $P_4/E_2$ ratio of the two regimens, suggesting that secretory endometrial build-up ability for implantation may not differ each other. Several significant correlations were observed between follicular phase seum $E_2$ peak levels and luteal phase serum $E_2$ and $P_4$ levels in the FSH/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles but any correlation was not significant in the CC/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles, suggesting that somewhat more follicles may eventually fall in atresia even after attaining dominant stage in the CC/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles than the FSH/hMG/hCG-stimulated cycles.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2012

This study was aimed to investigate whether or not black soybean supplements affect levels of lipid profiles and female hormone (estradiol; E2, estrogen; Es) in 57 middle-aged women (in their 40s and 50s). All subjects were randomly assigned to the control or black soybean supplement group (BSS group). The BSS group was allocated to use dietary black soybean supplements (100 g/day) for 8 weeks. The BSS subjects were divided into two subgroups; 14 women were in the premenopausal group and 15 were in the postmenopausal group. We measured lipid profiles, female hormones and nutrient intakes at 0 weesk and 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly decreased (P<0.01) and the athrogenic index (AI) was significantly increased (P<0.01) in control group. In BSS group, triglyceride (TG) (P<0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P<0.01) and LDL-HDL ratio (LHR) (P<0.01) were significantly decreased. However, E2 and Es were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared to the control group, the BSS group revealed statistically significant improvements in the levels of TG, HDL-cholesterol, AI, LHR, E2 and Es (P<0.05). In the premenopausal group, HDL-cholesterol (P<0.05), E2 (P<0.01) and Es (P<0.05) were significantly increased and AI (P<0.01) and LHR (P<0.01) were significantly decreased after 8 weeks. In the postmenopausal group, E2 (P<0.05), and Es (P<0.05) were significantly decreased. However, total cholesterol (TC) was increased (P<0.01). Compared to the postmenopausal group, the premenopausal group was significantly improved on HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and LHR (P<0.05). In conclusion, black soybean supplements may have beneficial effects on improving lipid profiles and female hormones.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2019

There are no published data on Gyeongokgo (GOK) safety or efficacy despite being commonly use. The Gyeongokgo (GOK) is commonly used in traditional Korean medicine to promote a health qi and blood, but their objective data was not sufficient in clinical field. To investigate the safety and efficacy of GOK with hematologic and serologic testing and the change of the quality of life in healthy individuals. Randomized, subject-assessor-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot study Participants and Interventions 29 healthy volunteer subjects were randomly placed into the GOK group (n = 20) or placebo control group (n = 9) and instructed to take one treatment packet (GOK or placebo) twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and underwent hematologic and serologic tests and body composition analysis. The FSS total score (p = 0.093) and SF-36 general health index (p = 0.002) were improved following treatment in the GOK group. Post-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in the GOK group compared with pre-treatment levels (p = 0.0042). C-reactive protein levels decreased (p = 0.0256) in the GOK group compared with that the placebo group. In time-series tests, GOK did not affect post-prandial serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or C-peptide levels. Notably, elevations in serum fasting triglycerides at 2- (p = 0.0333) and 4-hours (p = 0.0414) post-prandial were lower than those in the placebo group. GOK reduced fatigue levels and did not significantly affect laboratory test results performed to measure safety, serum glucose, and lipid profiles. Post-meal triglyceride levels were effectively reduced with treatment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.676-684
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• 2021

Euryhaline teleost have extraordinary ability to deal with a wide range of salinity changes. To study the seawater adaptability of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (body weight 638±54 g, length 38.6±2 cm) to salinity increase fish were transferred from freshwater to 7, 14, 21, 28 and 32 psu and checked for mortality over 5 days. No mortality was observed in 0-32 psu. In fish transferred to 0-32 psu, blood osmolality was maintained within physiological range. The changes of serum enzyme activities (aspartate transaminase, AST and alanine transaminase, ALT) showed no significant level during experimental period. To explore the underlying molecular physiology of gill and kidney responsible for body fluid regulation, we measured mRNA expression of five genes, Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl^- cotransporter1 (NKCC1), aquaporin3 (AQP3), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) in response to salt stress. Based on our result, rainbow trout could tolerate gradual transfer up to 32 psu for 5 days without mortality under physiological stress. This study suggests to alleviate osmotic stress to fish, a gradually acclimation to increasing salinity is recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.428-436
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• 2008

This study was carried out to compare the effects of whey protein concentrate, its hydrolysates and macropeptide fractions obtained from papain treatment of whey protein on lipid levels and appetite-related hormones in obesity model rats induced by high fat diet. Four week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high fat (18% w/w) and low protein (10% w/w) diet for 4 weeks and then divided into four groups (n=8/group). Rats were fed high fat diets containing various nitrogen sources; 10% whey protein concentrate (10WPC), 25% whey protein concentrate (25WPC), 25% whey protein hydrolysates (25WH), and 25% whey macropeptide fractions (25WP, MW$\geq$10,000), respectively for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in body weight gain and food intake among groups. A significant decrease of total lipid, triglyceride in serum was observed in 25WH and 25WP groups. Total lipid and triglyceride contents of the liver were significantly decreased in 25WPC, 25WH and 25WP groups compared with 10WPC group. However, in the liver, there were no differences in the contents of total lipid and triglyceride among 25WPC, 25WH and 25WP groups. The daily amounts of feces were significantly increased in 25WH and 25WP groups and the excretion of total lipid and triglyceride were significantly increased in 25WH group. Serum glucose and insulin concentration were significantly decreased in 25WH group. The concentration of serum ghrelin was significantly decreased in the 25WPC, 25WH and 25WP groups compared with 10WPC group. However, there was no significant difference in the concentration of serum leptin among groups. These results suggest that whey protein hydrolysates and macropeptide fractions may show beneficial effects on the lipid profile in serum and liver, appetite regulation and insulin resistance in obesity model rats induced by high fat diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.595-606
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• 2018

Objective: The Fusarium mycotoxins of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zerolenone (ZEN) cause health hazards for both humans and farm animals. Therefore, the main intention of this study was to reveal DON and ZEN effects on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune related genes in the liver of piglets. Methods: In the present study, 15 six-week-old piglets were randomly assigned to the following three different dietary treatments for 4 weeks: control diet, diet containing 8 mg DON/kg feed, and diet containing 0.8 mg ZEN/kg feed. After 4 weeks, liver samples were collected and sequenced using RNA-Seq to investigate the effects of the mycotoxins on genes and gene networks associated with the immune systems of the piglets. Results: Our analysis identified a total of 249 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which included 99 upregulated and 150 downregulated genes in both the DON and ZEN dietary treatment groups. After biological pathway analysis, the DEGs were determined to be significantly enriched in gene ontology terms associated with many biological pathways, including immune response and cellular and metabolic processes. Consistent with inflammatory stimulation due to the mycotoxin-contaminated diet, the following Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways, which were related to disease and immune responses, were found to be enriched in the DEGs: allograft rejection pathway, cell adhesion molecules, graft-versus-host disease, autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), type I diabetes mellitus, human T-cell leukemia lymphoma virus infection, and viral carcinogenesis. Genome-wide expression analysis revealed that DON and ZEN treatments downregulated the expression of the majority of the DEGs that were associated with inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 receptor, beta, chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9), proliferation (insulin-like growth factor 1, major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2, lipase G, and salt inducible kinase 1), and other immune response networks (paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor beta, Src-like-adaptor-1 [SLA1], SLA3, SLA5, SLA7, claudin 4, nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, thyrotropin-releasing hormone degrading enzyme, ubiquitin D, histone $H_2B$ type 1, and serum amyloid A). Conclusion: In summary, our results demonstrated that high concentrations DON and ZEN disrupt immune-related processes in the liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2016

The present study investigated the effect of Sinetrol-XPur (polyphenolic Citrus spp. and Paullinia cupana Kunth dry extract) and defined the action mode for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 activation. Leptin-deficient obese mice were treated with two different doses, 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 300 mg/kg BW of each AIN93G supplement, for 7 weeks. Treatment of obese mice with both low and high doses of Sinetrol-XPur significantly reduced body weight gain compared to control obese mice. White adipose tissue weight of mice was reduced by 30.96% in high dose-supplemented groups. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were reduced by a high dose of Sinetrol-XPur by 20.02% and 30.96%, respectively. Serum level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased by treatment with both doses, as the ratio of HDL to low density lipoprotein increased by 138.78% and 171.49%, respectively. Regarding expression of biochemical factors related to lipid metabolism, fatty acid synthase significantly decreased and UCP-2 increased upon treatment with a high dose of Sinetrol-XPur, but there was no significant difference in lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. To define cellular mechanism, intracellular cAMP levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner over the range of $50{\sim}250{\mu}m/mL$. The phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine clearly blocked cAMP, suggesting that Sinetrol-XPur promotes lipolysis of adipocytes through inhibition of cAMP-dependent PDE, resulting in induction of cAMP response element binding protein and UCP-2. These results suggest that Sinetrol-XPur supplementation is a viable option for reducing body weight and fat by improving serum lipid profiles and genetic expression of lipid metabolic factors, especially activation of cAMP-dependent UCP-2.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2014

Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess the clinical and laboratory profiles of chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and to assess the effects of treatment of active vitamin D analogs on severe hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in pediatric patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis. Methods: This is a retrospective study included 53 patients who had been undergoing dialysis for more than 1 year, between January 2003 and December 2012. Results: Even after treatment with phosphate binders and active vitamin D analogs, the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation of the percentage of time during peritoneal dialysis that the patients' serum concentrations of phosphorus, corrected total calcium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) fell within the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative recommended ranges was $25.06{\pm}17.47%$, $53.30{\pm}23.03%$, and $11.52{\pm}9.51%$, respectively. Clinical symptoms or radiological signs of CKD-MBD were observed in 10 patients (18.9%). There were significant differences in percentage of time that the serum intact PTH concentration was outside of the recommended range between patients with and without symptoms or signs of CKD-MBD (below recommended range, $11.74{\pm}7.37%$ vs. $40.77{\pm}25.39%$, P <0.001; above the recommended range, $63.79{\pm}27.86%$ vs. $37.09{\pm}27.76%$, P =0.022). Of the 25 patients with SHPT, high-dose alfacalcidol treatment was required in 13 patients that controlled SHPT in 7 of these patients, without marked complications. Conclusion: Despite our efforts to manage CKD-MBD, patients' met the recommended ranges from relevant guidelines at a low frequency. The treatment of high-dose active vitamin D analogs was required in about half of the patients with SHPT and effective in about half of them.