• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.903-911
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• 2002

The effects of dietary levan, high-molecular-weight $\beta$-2,6-linked fructose polymer, on adiposity, serum leptin and UCP expression in rats fed high fat diet were studied. The adipose tissue hormone, leptin has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Uncoupling protein (UCP), a mitochondrial protein that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative phosphorylation, generates heat instead of ATP, thereby increase energy expenditure. To determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity effect, 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats fed high fat diet for 6 wks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed one of three diets for further 6 wks: 1) high fat (40% of calories) diet without levan 2) with 3% (w/w) levan 3) with 5% levan. For the comparison, control group fed AIN-76A diet. Visceral and peritoneal fat masses were lower in high fat diet with levan groups compared to high fat diet group. The effect of levan was dose-dependent. Adipocyte size was significantly reduced in the levan diet groups compared to the no levan diet group. Serum cholesterol level was not affected by levan containing diet, while the serum HDL cholesterol level was higher in leven diet groups. In addition, serum triglyceride level was markedly reduced by levan containing diet, thus lower than that of control group. Serum leptin was reduced by levan containing diet and lower in 5% levan group compared to 3% levan group (p < 0.001), as a result, serum leptin and insulin levels of 5% levan group were reduced to level of control group. Futhermore, the serum leptin level reflected the adiposity. The expression of UCP 1, and UCP 2 in brown adipose tissue was up-regulated by levan containing diet. In conclusions, levan containing diet reduced adiposity and serum triglyceride but increased UCP expression in the obese rats fed high fat diet. (Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 903~911, 2002)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.563-568
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• 2007

This study was planned to investigate the role of Berberis lycium in reducing serum cholesterol in broilers. Six experimental rations designated as A, B, C, D, E and F having 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% Berberis lycium were fed to 240 broiler chicks, randomly distributed into 24 replicates, so as to have 4 replicates per group and 10 chicks per replicate. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Average serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were used as criteria of response. Average total serum cholesterol per chick was 129.33, 120.50, 116.50, 113.00, 101.67 and 114.00 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Total serum cholesterol showed decreasing trend with the increasing level of Berberis lycium unto 2% (p<0.05). Mean serum triglyceride level per chick was 60.00, 58.17, 58.00, 55.33, 50.17 and 48.50 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Mean serum triglyceride showed decreasing trend with the increasing level of Berberis lycium (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride was significantly lower in group F than other groups. Mean HDL per chick for the six experimental groups A, B, C, D, E and F was 52.08, 53.42, 60.42, 62.25, 62.92 and 54.50 mg/dl respectively. HDL showed increasing trend with the increase in the level of Berberis lycium unto 2%. The average serum LDL per chick was 65.25, 55.45, 44.48, 39.68, 28.72 and 49.80 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. LDL also showed decreasing trend with the increase in the level of Berberis lycium unto 2% (p<0.05). It was concluded that Berberis lycium added to feed at the rate of 2.0% can be used in broiler feed for reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL and increasing HDL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3261-3265
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate serum VEGF-A levels in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) patients and relationships with response to therapy. Materials and Methods: Serum VEGF-A levels in patients (n=72) treated with radiotherapy (RT) or radio-chemotherapy (RCT) and controls (n=40) were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum VEGF-A levels of the SCCHN cases were significantly higher (p=0.001) than in healthy controls, and in patients with positive as compared to negative lymph node status (p=0.004). Similarly, patients with advanced stage (Stage III-IV) disease had more greatly elevated levels of serum VEGF-A level than their early stage (Stage I-II) counterparts (p=0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference (p=0.57) in serum level of VEGF-A in patients with advanced T-stage (T3-4) as compared to early stage (T1-2). Similarly, patients with distant metastasis had no significant (p=0.067) elevation in serum VEGF-A level as compared to non-metastatic disease. However, the non-responder patients had significantly higher serum VEGF-A level as compared to responders (p=0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the serum VEGF-A level may be a useful biomarker for the prediction of response to therapy in SCCHN.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2003

Objectives : The aim of this experiment is to investigate the effects of moxibustion on SP6, Sp9 and BL28 in uranyl acetate-induced acute renal failure in rats. Methods : To induce experimental acute renal failure, uranyl acetate was intraperitoneally injected to rats by 5mg/kg. 3 days later moxibustion treatment was done at SP6, Sp9 and BL28 bilaterally of the rats. And then 4 days later, we measured rats' body weight, kidney weight, serum BUN, creatinine and serum electrolytic levels(Na, K and Cl). Results : In the SP6 group, serum BUN were significantly decreased (p<0.01). In the BL28 group, serum Na level were significantly decreased (p<0.05). In the $SP6{\cdot}SP9$ group, serum creatinine level were significantly increased but serum Na level, serum Cl level were significantly decreased(p<0.05). In the $SP6{\cdot}BL28$ group, hypertrophy index of kidney and serum creatinine level were significantly decreased(p<0.01) and serum BUN were marginally significantly decreased (0.1

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 2008

Recently, a lot of epidemiological studies revealed that low HDL-cholesterol level was a better predictor of risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol. This study investigated the anthropometric parameters, clinical blood indices, and dietary factors influencing serum HDL-cholesterol level by using a cross-sectional study for Korean female college students. The subjects were 94 female college students. They were divided into three groups according to their serum HDL-cholesterol levels, low HDL-cholesterol (<50 mg/dL, n=20), medium HDL-cholesterol (50 $\leq$, < 60 mg/dL, n=39) high serum HDL-cholesterol groups (60 $\leq$ mg/dL, n = 35). This study examined their demographic data and dietary intake throughout a questionnaire. Clinical blood indices were measured using an automatic blood chemistry analyzer (Selectra E), after 12 hours of fasting. BMI, body weight, fat mass, and waist circumferences were significantly increased according to low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Serum lipid analysis showed a significantly higher level of TG, LDL-/HDL-Ratio, atherogenic index in the low HDL-cholesterol group. Serum levels of GPT, uric acid and alkaline phosphatase in the low HDL-cholesterol group were significantly higher than in the other group. The average consumption of energy was 1627 kcal and 77.76% of estimated energy requirement (EER). The mean ratio of calories from carbohydrate: protein: fat was 57:15:28. The low HDL-cholesterol group was significantly higher than the other groups in eggs, fat and oils consumption. Interestingly, milk and diary products consumption of low HDL-cholesterol group was half (p < 0.05) of those of the other groups. In conclusion, serum HDL-cholesterol levels appeared to be decreased by increasing BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and serum TG level. In addition, some dietary factors seemed to be related to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact relationship between serum HDL-cholesterol level and dietary factors.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.338-346
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• 2018

Background: The most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnancy is preeclampsia. Serum cystatin C (CysC) is a potential biomarker of early kidney damage as its levels are not disturbed by volume status changes in pregnancy, and serum CysC levels could serve as a replacement for conventionally used creatinine. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of CysC in severe preeclampsia cases and the associations between CysC levels and poor obstetric outcomes. Methods: Our cohort included severe preeclampsia patients with a normal serum creatinine level. Creatinine was measured to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on the Cockcroft and Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations, while CysC was measured to calculated eGFR based on a CysC-based equation. We then evaluated the correlations between serum CysC level, eGFR, and obstetric outcomes. Results: Twenty-six patients were evaluated of which 38.5% delivered preterm and 30.8% had low-birth weight babies. Unlike creatinine-based eGFR and CysC-based eGFR, serum CysC demonstrate significant negative correlation with gestational age. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that serum CysC is a potential biomarker of preterm delivery with a cut-off serum level of 1.48 mg/L with 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Conclusion: GFR estimation using CysC is likely to be inaccurate in pregnancy. However, we found a significant correlation between preterm delivery and serum CysC level. Our results suggest that serum CysC level has the potential to predict preterm delivery in severe preeclampsia patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.98-108
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• 1994

The etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia remain unknown. It has been postulated that infectious-autoimmune process may play a role in the pathogenesis of symptoms in some schizophrenic patients. Findings of altered interleukin(IL) regulation have been regarded as additional proof that schzophrenia has an infectious-autoimmune background. In the present study, we measured mitogen-stimulated production of and serum level of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-6 using ELISA in 16 neuroleptic-free schizophrenic patients and in 16 age, sex matched healthy controls. The results were as follows : 1) There was a significant decrease of IL-2 production in schizophrenic patients than in normal controls(respectively $1.90{\pm}0.13ng/m{\ell}$, $2.79{\pm}0.14ng/m{\ell}$, p<0.001). But there was no significant difference of IL-$1{\beta}$ production and IL-6 production between schizophrenic patients and normal controls. 2) There was a significant increase of serum level of IL-2 in schizophrenic pateitns than in normal controls(respectively $184.8{\pm}12.8pg/m{\ell}$, $104.2{\pm}34.2pg/m{\ell}$, p<0.01). Serum level of IL-$1{\beta}$ was partially detected in both groups and serum level of IL-6 was not detected in both groups. 3) There was no significant differences of IL-$1{\beta}$, -2, -6 production & serum level of IL-2 according to male vs female, paranoid type vs undifferentiated type, drug-naive group vs drug-free group in schizophrenic patients. 4) There was significant correlation between IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production(r=0.86, p<0.001). No correlation between IL-$1{\beta}$, -2, -6 production, serum level of IL-2 and age, duration of illness, and BPRS score was found. It has been suggested that the low lymphocyte production of IL-2 in the patients with autoimmune disease occurs because the T cells are activated and lymphocyte-derived IL-2 has been released into the serum. The authors suggest that decreased IL-2 production in our schizophrenic patients is due to increased IL-2 serum level in those patients. Thus our finding of low IL-2 production and high serum level of IL-2 in our schizophrenic patients is compatible with the possibility that our patients have an autoimmune process. Further study on relationship between IL alteration and other immunological abnormalities(the presence of serum autoantibody and of anti-brain antibody, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$ cell index, etc) in schizophrenic patients will be warranted.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.146-151
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• 2005

Background: Preoperative elevated serum creatinine values are associated with increased risk for both morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). We investigated the postoperative changes of renal function and proper management in the patients. Material and Method: Among 74 consecutive patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG, 17 patients with increased serum creatinine level $(creatinine\;\geqq\;1.5\;mg/dL)$ within preoperative one week wereincluded in the study. Seven patients showed pre­operative serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL or higher, and 3 of them had been undergoing hemodialysis. Preoperative hemodialysis was performed in the 3 patients due to end-stage renal failure (ESRD) the day before the operation. We started peritoneal dialysis immediately after the cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with ESRD or postoperative acute renal failure if it was necessary to remove intravascular volume and lower serum creatinine level. Result In most of the patients with CABG, postoperative serum creatinine level increased and recovered to the preoperative level at the discharge. In 2 of the 4 patients with serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL or higher and 3 patients with ESRD, intravascular volume, serum creatinine level and serum electrolyte were controlled with peritoneal dialysis. Conclusion: Postoperative serum creatinine level increased transiently in most of CABG patients, and intravascular volume and serum creatinine level were controlled by peritoneal dialysis only in the patients with acute renal failure postoperatively and those depending on hemodialysis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.825-833
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• 1995

This study was performed to investigate the influence of dietary fiber, which from whole food on the serum lipid level and bowel function in rats. The fiber sources of experimental diets were prepared by drying and milling of small water dropwort(WD), mugwort(MW), butterbur(BB) and apple(AP). Each fiber sources was mixed at the 15% level of the diet. The level of dietary fiber in WD, MW, BB diets was similar but that in AP diet was slightly low. Male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were blocked into 5 groups ; WD, MW, BB, AP, FF(fiber free). The animals were fed ad libitum each of experimental diets for 37 days. Food intake of AP and FF groups were than other groups, FF group was lower than other grous in food efficiency ratio. MW group showed highest level in fecal weight and fecal water content and group has the longest transit time compare to other groups. Serum triglyceride level was not significantly different among groups. BB group showed the lowest level in the serum total cholesterol. WD and MW groups showed slightly higher level in the serum HDL cholesterol than other groups. Mucosa weight was not significantly different among groups. The activity of maltase in mucosa of small intestine was highest in FF groups. Absorption rates of calcium were not significantly different among groups. Absorption rate of magnesium was higher in FF group compare to others. And, absorption rates of phosphorus in MW and FF groups were slightly lower than other groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.349-357
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• 1998

This study was done to investigate the effect of adolescent smoking on dietary intakes and nutritional status of serum lipids and antioxidant vitamins. Subjects were 82 somkers whose average pack-year was 0.73, and 85 nonsmokers of male technical high school students in Seoul. Anthropometric measurement was performed and % body fat was also analyzed by Bioelectrical Impedance Fatness Analyzer(GIF-891). Dietary intakes and habits were examined through questionnaires and nutrient intakes were analyzed by Computer Aided Nutritional (CAN) analysis programs. Serum TG and total cholesterol levels were measured by Spotchem sp-4410 and serum HDL-cholesterol levels were measured by test kit. serum vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and serum levels of vitamin A and vitamin E were measured by HPLC. All data were statistically analyzed by SAS PC package program. There was a significant difference in body fat percentage and systolic blood pressure while other anthropometric measurements were not different between smokers and monsmokers. Caloric intakes(2335㎉) in adolescent smokers tended to be higher than that of nonsmokers (2,175㎉) but the difference was not statistically significant. Intakes of protein(76.67g) and niacin(16.49㎎) in adolescent male smokers were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of nonsmokers although other nutrient intakes were not significantly different. Analysis of serum lipids showed that serum HDL-cholesterol level of smokers was significantly different. Analysis of serum lipids showed that serum HDL-cholesterol level of smokers was significantly lower(p<0.05) than that of nonsmokers, whereas other lipid levels were not significantly different. Serum vitamin C level was also significantly lower(p<0.05) in adolescent smokers than in nonsmokers. In addition, serum vitamin E level, which was 7.85㎎/1 in smokers, was lower than that of 9.20㎎/1 in nonsmokers(p<0.05) while serum vitamin A level was not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that cigarette smoking in adolescence decreases serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, vitamin C and vitamin E even thoughth their smoking history is very short. (Korean J Community Nutrition 3(3) : 349∼357, 1998)