• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.720-728
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• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in plasma concentration and urinary excretion of carnitine, as well as plasma lipid level and fatty acid composition, caused by short term supplementation of carnitine in humans. Ten healthy male subjects (21.2 $\pm$ 0.5 years old) received oral carnitine supplementation (4 g/day) as tablets for two weeks. Fasting blood and random urine samples were collected from each subject both prior to and at the end of carnitine supplemention program. Following the 2 weeks of carnitine supplementation, plasma total carnitine (TCNE) concentration increased 20% (85.1 $\pm$ 7.4 vs 67.3 $\pm$ 9.1 $\mu$ mol/1, p> 0.05), while urinary excretion of total carnitine increased ten times compared to the value measured prior to the supplementation (3051 $\pm$ 692 vs 278 $\pm$ 90.1 $\mu$ mol/g creatinine, p < 0.01). Non-esterified carnitine (NEC) comprised from 71 to 88% of TCNE in plasma, and from 32 to 40% of TCNE excreted in the urine. Two weeks of carnitine supplementation in healthy adults significantly elevated plasma level of acid soluble acylcarnitine (ASAC) which is esterified mostly with short chain fatty acids (21.6 $\pm$ 1.6 $\mu$ mol/l) compared to the value measured prior to the supplementation (6.4 $\pm$ 0.8 $\mu$ mol/l) (p < 0.05). Carnitine supplementation significantly increased plasma HDL-cholesterol level (p < 0.05), and decreased the atherogenic index (p < 0.05), but failed to cause any significant change in plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and free fatty acids. Plasma triglyceride and phospholipid fatty acid compositions were not significaly affected as well by the oral supplementation of carnitine in subjects with normal range of blood lipid levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 1990

This study was carried out to investigate Mg status and the relationship between dietary Mg the blood pressure in 30 healthy women, 26 to 57 year of age, living in rural area of Korea. Dietary intake of the subjects on self-selected diet were recorded. Duplicated food sample and 24-hour urine samples were collected for 3 days. Mean daily dietary Mg intake levels were determined by chemical analysis of duplicated food samples and mean daily urinary Mg excretion was measured from urine samples. Fasting serum Mg levels of each subjects was measured on the 3rd day of the survey. The results were as following: 1) The mean daily intakes of energy, protein were 1770.36㎉ and 55.55g, respectively. Carbohydrare, fat and protein supplied 77.1%, 10.4% and 12.5% of total energy intake. 2) The dietary Mg showed positive correlations with carbohydrate(P<0.05), vitamin A and vitamin B2(P<0.01), energy, Ca, P, fiber, vitamin B1 and niacin(P<0.001), but negative correlation with SBP(P<0.05). 3) The daily mean intake of Mg was 259.07$\pm$74.54mg and the urinary excretion of Mg was 75.48$\pm$33.14mg which was 29.5% of the dietary intake of Mg. And there was no significance between the dietary intake and the urinary excretion of Mg. 4) The dietary fiber showed negative correlations with SBP and DBP(P<0.05). 5) The serum and urinary concentrations of Mg were normal range and the serum Mg showed negative correlation with dietary vitamin C(P<0.05, r=-0.3655). It was concluded that the dietary Mg level of Korean rural women consuming self-selected diets was lower than that of RDA of American women but higher than that of RDA of Canadian. And the dietary intake levels of Mg and fiber, which are contained mostly in cereals and vegetables are useful to prevent hypertention.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify temporal trends in urinary cotinine levels and exposure factors among Non-smokers in Korean adults. Methods: Biological samples and questionnaire data were collected from representative Korean adults recruited in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey from 2009 to 2017. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting urinary cotinine concentrations of non-smokers. Results: The urinary cotinine levels of Korean non-smokers decreased in Cycle 2 (1.04 ㎍/L, 2012-2014) compared to Cycle 1 (1.93 ㎍/L, 2009-2011) but increased slightly in Cycle 3 (1.37 ㎍/L, 2015-2017). Among the diverse variables, the main factors of cotinine exposure were secondhand smoke exposure and the presence of smokers in the family. Conclusions: The results of this study identified temporal trends in cotinine exposure among non-smokers in the Korean adult population. These findings will be used to develop further assessment and environmental health policies on secondhand smoke exposure.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2006

To evaluate an effect of pathological liver damage on the cyclohexane (CH) metabolism, rats were pretreated with 50% carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ dissolved in olive oil (0.1ml/100g body weight) 10 or 17 times intraperitoneally at intervals of every other day. To these liver damaged animals, CH (a single dose of 1.56g/kg body weight, i.p.) was administered at 48hr after the last injection of $CCl_4$. The CH metabolites; cyclohexanol (CH-ol), cyclohexane-l,2-diol (CH-l,2-diol) and cyclohexane-l,4-diol (CH-l,4-diol) and cyclohexanone (CH-one) were detected in the urine of CH treated rats. After CH treatment, the serum levels of CH-ol and CH-one were remarkably increased at 4 hr and then decreased at 8hr in normal group. Whereas in liver damaged rats, these CH metabolites were higher at 8hr than at 4hr. The excretion rate of CH metabolites trom serum into urine was more decreased in liver damaged animals than normal group, with the levels of excretion rate being lower in $CCl_4$ 17 times injected animals than 10 times injected ones. It was interesting that the urinary concentration of CH metabolites was generally more increased in liver damaged animals than normal ones, and the increasing rate was higher in $CCl_4$ 17 times injected rats than 10 times injected ones. Taken all together, it is assumed that reduced urinary excretion rate of CH metabolites in liver damaged rats might be resulted from deteriorated hepatic and renal blood flow, and an increased urinary excretion amount of CH metabolites in liver damaged rats might be caused by reduced expiration amount of the metabolites due to lung damage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5651-5655
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• 2013

Objective: Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) is a stress-inducible glycoprotein that can be shed as a soluble protein. This study was conducted to determine the expression of MICA in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and examine the clinical relevance of soluble MICA (sMICA) in this disease. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analyses were performed to assess the expression of MICA in 48 pairs of RCC and adjacent normal renal tissues. Serum levels of sMICA were measured in 48 RCC patients, 12 patients with benign renal tumors, and 20 healthy individuals. The correlations between sMICA levels and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed and the diagnostic performance of sMICA in RCC was evaluated. Results: RCCs exhibited elevated expression of MICA compared to adjacent normal tissues. Serum concentrations of sMICA were significantly greater in RCC patients ($348.5{\pm}32.5pg/ml$) than those with benign disease ($289.3{\pm}30.4pg/ml$) and healthy controls ($168.4{\pm}43.2pg/ml$) and significantly correlated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, vascular invasion, and higher histological grade. Using a cut-off point of 250 pg/ml, sMICA demonstrated a specificity and sensitivity of 63.2% and 75.6%, respectively, in distinguishing between RCC and benign renal tumors. Conclusion: MICA expression is upregulated in RCC and increased serum sMICA levels predict aggressive tumor behavior. However, the applicability of sMICA alone is limited in distinguishing RCC from benign renal tumors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.214-222
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• 1997

The aim of this experiments was to investigate the effect of Croton. Tiglii. semen water extract on the renal function, plasma renin activity, plasma levels of atrial natriuretiu peptide and aldosterone in rats. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Water balance was not changed significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract. 2. Urine volume decreased significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract $80{\mu}l/200g$. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium increased significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract $40{\mu}l/200g$, but decreased significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract $80{\mu}l/200g$. 4. Urinary excretion of potassium decreased significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract $80{\mu}l/200g$. 5. Urinary excretion of chloride was not changed significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract. 6. Free water clearance was not changed significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract. 7. Urinary excretion of creatinine increased significantly after the administration of Croton Tiglii semen $40{\mu}l/200g$. 8. Plasma renin activity was not changed significantly after administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract. 9. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide increased significantly after administration of Croton Tiglii semen water extract. 10. Plasma levels of aldosterone increased significantly after administration of Croton Tiglii semen $40{\mu}l/200g$.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of chlorella diet supplementation. Blood accumulation and urine excretion levels were measured after the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed on a chlorella diet supplementation mixed with 40 ppm of CdCl$_2$. Four groups tested for blood accumulation and urine excretion levels. All four groups fed on a basic diet with a cadmium mixture. The diet for the first group contained only basic diet and the cadmium added to the drinking water. The diet for the three other groups contained cadmium to the drinking water, and 1%, 5% and 10% of chlorella added to the basic diet. A concentration of cadmium for the first group showed a 3.2$\pm$0.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/I blood accumulation level and 41.5$\pm$32.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l urinary excretion level, and the second group, which was fed on the basic diet with 1% of chlorella added and cadmium to the drinking water showed a $1.5\pm$0.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l blood level and only l4.l$\pm$1.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/l urinary excretion level. The other two groups, which were fed on 5% and 10% of chlorella concentration and cadmium to the drinking water did not exhibit any notable effects greater than the group fed on 1% concentration of chlorella. The results suggest that the blood accumulation and urinary excretion of Cadmium are influenced by the chlorella diet supplementation from the concentration of 1% of the basic diet.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.349-357
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• 1998

The aim of this experiments was to investigate the effect of Semen Plantaginis extract on. the renal function, plasma renin activity, plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone in rats. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Water balance decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 2. Urine volume increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1ml/200g. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 4. Urinary excretion of potassium decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.1 ml/200 g, 2week. 5. Urinary excretion of chloride decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 6. Free water clearance increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract 0.1 ml/200 g, 2 week and 0.2 ml/200 g. 7. Urinary excretion of creatinine increased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 8. Plasma renin activity decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract, 0.2 ml/200 g. 9. Plasma levels of aldosterone decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract. 10. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) decreased significantly after the administration of Semen Plantaginis extract.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.7.1-7.9
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea. Methods: A total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. To compare the urinary levels of exposure biomarkers, the urine of 39 inland residents who were not directly exposed to the oil spill were analyzed. Results: Residents exposed to oil remnants through clean-up work showed associations between physical symptoms and the exposure levels defined in various ways, including days of work, degree of skin contamination, and levels of some urinary exposure biomarkers of VOCs, metabolites and metals, although no major abnormalities in urinary exposure biomarkers were observed. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a relationship between crude oil exposure and acute human health effects and suggests the need for follow-up to evaluate the exposure status and long-term health effects of clean-up participants.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2020

Purpose: To investigate the association between urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and leukocyte differential count in children with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in children undergoing uNGAL measurements between June 2018 and September 2019. Patients with suspected or diagnosed UTIs were included. The relationship between uNGAL and blood leukocyte differential count was investigated in children. Results: A total of 197 children were included in this study, 119 of whom (60%) had UTIs. The non-UTI patients (n=78) were diagnosed with pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, viral upper respiratory infection, and others. After adjusting for age, gender, and fever duration, the leukocyte count, monocyte count, and uNGAL levels were higher in the UTI group than in the non-UTI group (P<0.05). uNGAL showed positive correlations with neutrophil counts, monocyte counts, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio in the UTI group (P<0.05). uNGAL levels were only associated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the non-UTI group (P<0.05). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, only uNGAL was associated with the presence of UTI (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for uNGAL and monocyte counts to identify UTI were 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.824-0.939; P=0.025) and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.627-0.774; P=0.038), respectively. Conclusions: In children with UTIs, uNGAL levels may be associated with blood leukocyte differential counts. uNGAL measurements and monocyte counts can be helpful in children with suspected UTIs.