• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.452-456
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• 2015

Obesity is the fifth leading risk for death globally, and a significant challenge to global health. It is a common, complex, non-malignant disease and develops due to interactions between the genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals; analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. To assess the effects of excessive weight and obesity on gene-specific methylation levels of promoter regions, we determined the methylation status of four genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress [interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and glucose transport 4 (GLUT4)] in blood cell-derived DNA from healthy women volunteers with a range of body mass indices (BMIs) by methylation-specific PCR. Interestingly, the samples from obese individuals ($BMI{\geq}30kg/m^2$) showed significantly increased hypermethylation for IL6 gene compared to normal weight ($BMI<23kg/m^2$) and overweight sample ($23kg/m^2{\leq}BMI<30kg/m^2$) (P = 0.034 and P = 0.026). However there was no statistically significant difference in promoter methylation of the other 3 genes between each group. These findings suggest that aberrant DNA methylation of IL6 gene promoter may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity and IL6 methylation could be used as molecular biomarker for obesity risk assessment. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.714-723
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to compare nutrient intakes, serum hormones (leptin, adiponectin, insulin), salivary cortisol and ${\alpha}$-amylase of middle-aged women by the percentage of body fat (% fat). Subjects were assigned to 3 groups by body fat (%) group I (27.5%), group II (32.5%), group III (37.7%). WHR of group II (0.97) was significantly higher than of group I, III (0.95) (p < 0.05). Nutrient intakes were not different among 3 groups. Serum leptin levels of group III ($16.53{\mu}g/ml$) were higher than in group I ($10.07{\mu}g/ml$), group II ($12.24{\mu}g/ml$) (p < 0.05). Salivary cortisol levels of group II ($0.39{\mu}g/dl$) were higher than in group I ($0.17{\mu}g/dl$) and group III ($0.15{\mu}g/dl$) (p < 0.05). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with TAS (r = -0.29) and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = 0.27). Insulin levels were negatively correlated with total cholesterol (r = -0.33), Zn intake (r = -0.31) and positively correlated with WHR (r = 0.31). The overall anthropometric indices showed positive relations with leptin levels. Salivary cortisol levels were positively corelated with WHR (r = 0.28), total cholesterol (r = 0.31), MDA (r = 0.29) and intakes of SFA (r = 0.35) and MUFA (r = 0.3). Salivary amylase levels were positively correlated with overall nutrient intakes (energy, CHO, fat, cholesterol. Fe, SFA, MUFA, Zn, Na, vitamin $B_2$, r = 0.24-0.5) and was negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.34). These results suggested that 1) WHR would be a helpful index in the assessment of metabolic risk diseases. 2) Understanding of individual stress exposure should be considered in developing strategies for prevention and treatment of obesity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.531-538
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• 2004

Ginsan, a polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing a variety of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF, and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In the present study, we analyzed some immune functions 1$^{st}$-5$^{th}$ days after ginsan i.p. injection, including the level of non-protein thiols (NPSH) as antioxidants, heme oxygenase (HO) activity as a marker of oxidative stress, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time and level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) as indices of drug metabolism system, and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin level as indicators of hepatotoxicity. Ginsan in the dose of 100 mg/kg caused marked elevation (1.7-2 fold) of HO activity, decrease of total CYP450 level (by 20-34%), and prolongation of zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time (by 65-70%), and showed some differences between male and female mice. Ginsan treatment did not seem to cause hepatic injury, since serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not changed.d.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.339-349
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behavior relative to personality type in young adults, and to offer basic data to apply during nutrition education and counseling. A total of 166 university students performed the MBTI (Mayers-Briggs Type Indicator) test along with questionnaire interviews, and 3 day 24-hr dietary recalls. MBTI personality preferences are presented and separated by 4 types of indices: Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I), Sensing (S) and Intuition (N), Thinking (T) and Feeling (F), and Judgement (J) and Perception (P). More subjects in the I type than the E type had lunch everyday or ate out more than once a week. Compared to the P type, the J type ate a higher proportion of meals with family, and seldom drank alcohol, but a lower proportion had a preference for salty taste. Compared to the N type, the S type had a higher proportion of subjects who consumed large quantities at regular meals as well as when under high amounts of stress. Also, the S type subjects had significantly higher lipid intakes than the N type subjects. Compared to the F type, a higher proportion of the T type subjects ate meals alone but a lower proportion had a dislike for bitter tasting foods. There were no significant differences in total food or energy intakes relative to the different personality types. In conclusion, individual personality type may influence dietary behavior, but additional studies are needed that contain individuals of various ages and include long term dietary surveys.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.202-208
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• 2007

Persimmon is well-known as a Korean traditional medicine for alleviating coughs and enhancing blood circulation; it is also used for treatment of hypertension, cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. To evaluate the protective properties of persimmon leaf methanol extract (PLME) and persimmon fruit methanol extract (PFME) administration on acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, C57BL/6 male mice were gavaged with or without persimmon extracts for 1 week. Hepatotoxicity was then induced by gavage of 5 g/kg BW ethanol. After 12 hr of ethanol administration, blood and liver were collected and analyzed for biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. The results showed PLME and PFME treatments decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared with ethanol control. Both PLME and PFME reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, but elevated alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Serum triglyceride (TG) and hepatic cholesterol levels were significantly decreased when treated with PLME and PFME. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in PLME and PFME groups compared with ethanol control. Furthermore, the administration of PLME and PFME significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH-red). In summary, PLME and PFME appeared to prevent hepatic injury by accelerating alcohol metabolism by increasing alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities, by activating the antioxidative enzyme system against oxidative stress, and by decreasing fat accumulation, which is evidenced by decreased hepatotoxic indices in serum.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.803-813
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• 2003

Literature suggests that iron deficiency anemia is prevalent among pregnant women all over the world. This study was designed to evaluate the iron status of pregnant women during the fist five months, with the intention of determining ways to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Korea. We collected dietary information and measured the biochemical status of iron in 171 pregnant women over 16 weeks of gestation (=16.7$\pm$2.34 week). Dietary intakes for 3 days were collected using the 24 hour recall and food record methods. The daily Fe intake was measured using the food frequency method. The Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated by using the pre-pregnancy weight and height, indicated that 31.3% of subjects were under-weight. We divided the subjects into normal and anemic group by using the serum ferritin levels. It appeared that the mean dietary intake of iron was 52.3% of the recommended level for pregnant women. The dietary quality evaluation showed that pregnant women ate only 58% of the recommended amount in the food groups of meat, fish, eggs, beans and milk and dairy products. The hematological indices showed that the mean Hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.9 g/dl, Hematocrit (Hct) was 35.1%, ferritin was 23.9 $ng/ml$, and transferrin was 297.3 ${\mu}g/dl$. The dietary intake of iron was significantly lower and the vitamin C intake was significantly higher in the anemic group. The pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly lower in the anemic group. Variables affecting iron intake were the Fe intake frequency index and the food group score. The Fe index showed significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake and the food group score. Hb showed a significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake. We concluded that strategies to improve iron status be implemented in the pre-pregnant stage so as to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency and that we should stress on the importance of an adequate diet as well as the maintenance of a heathy weight.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.191-205
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• 2020

Soil shear strength parameters play a remarkable role in designing geotechnical structures such as retaining wall and dam. This study puts an effort to propose two accurate and practical predictive models of soil shear strength parameters via hybrid artificial neural network (ANN)-based models namely genetic algorithm (GA)-ANN and particle swarm optimization (PSO)-ANN. To reach the aim of this study, a series of consolidated undrained Triaxial tests were conducted to survey inherent strength increase due to addition of polypropylene fibers to sandy soil. Fiber material with different lengths and percentages were considered to be mixed with sandy soil to evaluate cohesion (as one of shear strength parameter) values. The obtained results from laboratory tests showed that fiber percentage, fiber length, deviator stress and pore water pressure have a significant impact on cohesion values and due to that, these parameters were selected as model inputs. Many GA-ANN and PSO-ANN models were constructed based on the most effective parameters of these models. Based on the simulation results and the computed indices' values, it is observed that the developed GA-ANN model with training and testing coefficient of determination values of 0.957 and 0.950, respectively, performs better than the proposed PSO-ANN model giving coefficient of determination values of 0.938 and 0.943 for training and testing sets, respectively. Therefore, GA-ANN can provide a new applicable model to effectively predict cohesion of fiber-reinforced sandy soil.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Background: The continuous search for a novel neuropathic pain drug with few or no side effects has been a main focus of researchers for decades. This study investigated the antinociceptive and neuroprotective effects of bromelain in sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats randomly divided into eight groups comprised of six animals each were used for this study. Peripheral neuropathy was induced via chronic constriction of the common sciatic nerve. Thermal hyperalgesic and mechanical allodynia were assessed using a hotplate and von Frey filaments, respectively. The functional recovery and structural architecture of the ligated sciatic nerve were evaluated using the sciatic functional index test and a histological examination of the transverse section of the sciatic nerve. The neuroprotective effects of bromelain were investigated in the proximal sciatic nerve tissue after 21 days of treatment. Results: Bromelain significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated both the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynic indices of neuropathic pain. There were improvements in sciatic function and structural integrity in rats treated with bromelain. These rats showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in sciatic nerve nuclear transcription factors (nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-related factors-1 [NrF-1] and NrF-2), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced membranelipid peroxidation compared with the ligated control group. Conclusions: This study suggest that bromelain mitigated neuropathic pain by enhancing the activities of nuclear transcription factors (NrF-1 and NrF-2) which increases the antioxidant defense system that abolish neuronal stress and structural disorganization.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.688-696
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• 2018

This study investigated the effects of ozone-produced oxidants (OPO) on the growth, hematology, and histology of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (average weight 500 g), raised in an ozonated semi-recirculating aquaculture system. The system was ozonated to maintained OPO concentrations of 0.004 (Control), 0.014 (OPO15), and 0.025 (OPO25) mg $Cl_2/L$ in culture tanksfor 26 days. The specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate did not significantly differ among the groups (P>0.05), while the daily feeding rate decreased OPO-dose-dependently (P<0.05). OPO appeared to affect the gill, hepatopancreas, and kidney tissues of fish from ozonated tanks. Hematologically, OPO affected some blood indices. The levels of chloride, glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were significantly increased in the ozonated groups, while the total cholesterol and cortisol decreased dose-dependently. These results imply that long-term exposure of olive flounder to an OPO concentration ${\geq}0.014mg\;Cl_2/L$ might result in damage to the gill, hepatopancreas, and kidney tissues and cause physiological stress, albeit with no apparent short-term effects on growth or survival.

• 가정간호학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.310-318
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• 2022

Purpose: This is a cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of dry eye syndrome symptoms and eye fatigue on the vision-related quality of life (QOL) of middle-aged patients with dry eye syndrome. Methods: The participants of this study were 94 ophthalmology clinic outpatients aged 40-59 years who were diagnosed with dry eye syndrome at A and S Ophthalmology Clinics in D City, South Korea, and were exhibiting dry eye syndrome symptoms. Data were collected from July 5, 2021 to July 22, 2021, and analyzed using independent t-test, analysis of variance, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. Results: The severity of dry eye syndrome symptoms and asthenopia (r=.73, p<.001) in the participants were positively correlated, whereas the severity of dry eye syndrome symptoms and vision-related quality of life (r=-.76, p<.001) were negatively correlated. Additionally, there was a negative relationship between eye fatigue and vision-related QOL (r=-.55, p<.001). It was found that the final factors affecting the vision-related QOL of middle-aged patients with dry eye syndrome were the severity of dry eye syndrome symptoms (β=-0.76, p<.001) and dry eye stress (β=-0.14, p=.048). The explanatory power of vision-related QOL in the participants was 56.0%. Conclusion: To develop indices that can objectively measure patients' subjective symptoms for improving their vision-related QOL is necessary.