• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1695-1704
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• 2014

Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy may give rise to female offspring with disrupted ovary functions in adult age. Neonatal ovary development predisposes adult ovary function, yet the effect of maternal nutrition on the neonatal ovary has not been described. Therefore, here we show the impact of maternal protein restriction on the expression of folliculogenic and steroidogenic genes, their regulatory microRNAs and promoter DNA methylation in the ovary of neonatal piglets. Sows were fed either standard-protein (SP, 15% crude protein) or low-protein (LP, 7.5% crude protein) diets throughout gestation. Female piglets born to LP sows showed significantly decreased ovary weight relative to body weight (p<0.05) at birth, which was accompanied with an increased serum estradiol level (p<0.05). The LP piglets demonstrated higher ratio of bcl-2 associated X protein/B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 mRNA (p<0.01), which was associated with up-regulated mRNA expression of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) (p<0.05) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (p<0.05). The steroidogenic gene, cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05) in LP piglets. The alterations in ovarian gene expression were associated with a significant down-regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor mRNA expression (p<0.05) in LP piglets. Moreover, three microRNAs, including miR-423-5p targeting both CYP19A1 and PCNA, miR-378 targeting CYP19A1 and miR-210 targeting BMP4, were significantly down-regulated (p<0.05) in the ovary of LP piglets. These results suggest that microRNAs are involved in mediating the effect of maternal protein restriction on ovarian function through regulating the expression of folliculogenic and steroidogenic genes in newborn piglets.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.382-390
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• 2018

This study developed a model to evaluate the quality management system of a medical device manufacturing company, and applied it to medical device manufacturers to understand the impact on business performance in response to international regulations and industry's change. This study prepared preliminary items, defined four (4) major factors (Plan-Do-Check-Act) that consist of the evaluation layers and items per category according to prior research review and expert interview, and calculated the weight and importance using AHP. The study results showed that responsibility & authority and quality objective in Planning Category, product-related requirement and R&D in Doing Category, Measuring and monitoring in Check Category, and review of meeting Regulatory and regulation in Action Category are relatively more important factors. The evaluation model developed based on the calculated weight and importance to business performance was applied to medical device manufacturers to investigate and analyze the implementation level of QMS and its impact on business performance according to each category. Most medical device manufacturers to be studied showed a reasonable level of QMS and effective business performance. Almost all the evaluation layers and items in the four (4) factors had a significant influence on business performance. Although the medical device quality management system is aimed mainly at license acquisition, it is important that management environment factors not related directly to licensing and authorization are important to business performance, and it is effective when these factors are integrated and operated within and outside the manufacturer.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effects of jaceosidin on blood glucose regulation in type 1 diabetic mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups; normal control (Normal), diabetes control (D-Control), diabetes low-jaceosidin (D-0.005%), and diabetes high-jaceosidin (D-0.02%). Type 1 diabetes was induced by streptozotocin and mice were then fed a diet containing jaceosidin for eight weeks. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities were assessed. Results: Jaceosidin supplementation for eight weeks had no effect on body weight, organ weight, and blood lipid profiles. However, jaceosidin supplementation significantly lowered fasting blood glucose level and reduced insulin resistance. We also found that jaceosidin supplementation increased antioxidant capacity by enhancement of catalase and GSH-px activities. Conclusion: These results suggest that jaceosidin could be a therapeutic candidate to ameliorate hyperglycemia through increase of antioxidant enzyme activity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2007

We evaluated the use of citrus fruit fermented by lactic acid bacteria, as a feed supplement for flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) cultivation. For the fermentation, a lactic acid bacterial strain W-44 showing antibacterial activity was isolated from kimchi. From the phylogenetic analysis based on, 16S rDNA sequence, the strain W-44 was identified as Lactococcus lactis. After the fermentation of citrus fruit with L. lactis W-44, the contents of naringenin and hesperetin, bioactive flavonoid aglycones, were increased about ten-fold and six-fold, respectively. The effects of fermented citrus fruit-based feed additives (CFBFA) were tested on the growth of flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. There were significant differences in average total length and body weight between the experimental and control group. The growth rate of the experimental group fed with the 0.2% CFBFA-supplemented diet was increased 4.5% and 20.9% more than the control group in total length and body weight, respectively. These results suggest that the fermented citrus fruit could be used as a functional feed additive for flounder cultivation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.92-103
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• 2011

Ginseng has been used as a general tonic agent to invigorate human body. In the present study, we isolated novel glycolipoproteins from ginseng that activate $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel (CaCC) in Xenopus oocytes and transiently increase intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. We named the active ingredients as gintonin. Gintonin exists in at least six different forms. The native molecular weight of gintonin is about 67 kDa but its apparent molecular weight is about 13 kDa, indicating that gintonin might be a pentamer. Gintonin is rich in hydrophobic amino acids. Its main carbohydrates are glucose and glucosamine. Its lipid components are linoleic, palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids. Gintonin actions were blocked by U73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor, 2-aminoethxydiphenyl borate, an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist, or bis (o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N0,N0-tetracetic acid acetoxymethyl ester, a membrane permeable $Ca^{2+}$ chelator. In the present study, we for the first time isolated novel gintonin and showed the signaling pathways on gintonin-mediated CaCC activations and transient increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Since $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ as a second messenger plays a pivotal role in the regulation of diverse $Ca^{2+}$-dependent intracellular signal pathways, gintonin-mediated regulations of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ might contribute to biological actions of ginseng.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Endothelial cells are a vital constituent of most mammalian organs and are required to maintain the integrity of these tissues. These cells also play a major role in angiogenesis, inflammatory reactions, and in the regulation of thrombosis. Angiogenesis facilitates pulp formation and produces the vessels which are essential for the maintenance of tooth homeostasis. These vessels can also be used in bone and tissue regeneration, and in surgical procedures to place implants or to remove cancerous tissue. Furthermore, endothelial cell regeneration is the most critical component of the tooth generation process. The aim of the present study was to stimulate endothelial regeneration at a site of acute cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced endothelial injury by treatment with human umbilical cord-derived endothelial/mesenchymal stem cells (hEPCs). We randomly assigned 16 to 20-week-old female NOD/SCID mice into three separate groups, a hEPC ($1{\times}10^5$ cells) transplanted, 300mg/kg CP treated and saline (control) group. The mice were sacrificed on days 5 and 10 and blood was collected via the abdominal aorta for analysis. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alkaline phosphatase (s-ALP), and albumin (ALB) levels were then evaluated. Tissue sections from the livers and kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for microscopic analysis and were subjected to immunohistochemistry to evaluate any changes in the endothelial layer. CP treatment caused a weight reduction after one day. The kidney/body weight ratio increased in the hEPC treated animals compared with the CP only group at 10 days. Moreover, hEPC treatment resulted in reduced s-ALP, AST, ALT levels compared with the CP only group at 10 days. The CP only animals further showed endothelial injuries at five days which were recovered by hEPC treatment at 10 days. The number of CD31-positive cells was increased by hEPC treatment at both 5 and 10 days. In conclusion, the CP-induced disruption of endothelial cells is recovered by hEPC treatment, indicating that hEPC transplantation has potential benefits in the treatment of endothelial damage.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2002

The subjects were 420 workers who received oriental and western health examination both in the workplaces for 1 month. This study was planned for the reflection of western health examination results through evaluation of Sasang constitution with use of data from western health examination, and for the presentation of basic data applicable to constitutional medicine with preventive medicine. Data that were collected in field research were analyzed into frequencies, One-Way ANOVA, Chi-square testing by the study purposes, and the research results were as follows: 1. The distribution of Sasang constitution in 420 subjects was Taeumin > Soumin > Soyangin, and the general characteristics of subject by Sasang constitution were no significant difference. 2. For the measured values for body by the subject of Sasang constitution, Taeumin had higher value for height, body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure than other 2 constitutions. Soumin had the lowest values in average for all items, and on the other hand, Soyangin had high pulse pressure compared to other constitutions. It was significant difference between constitutions. 3. For the hematological average, Taeumin had high average for FBS, Total-C, GPT, and Taeumin ,and Soyangin had high in Hb compared to Soumin. Soyangin had the highest average for ${\gamma}-GPT$, and there were significant differences between FBS, Total-C, Hb, GPT, ${\gamma}-GTP$, excepting for GOT. 4. For the result of health examination by the Sasang constitution of subject, Taeumin showed the highest percentage in the items of obesity, primary care, secondary suspicion, and showed significant difference by the constitution. For the distribution of the past disease history by the health examination result of Sasang constitution, Taeumin and Soumin had high prevalence rate for hypertension, liver disease, and Soyangin had high prevalence rate for liver disease, hypertension. For the requirement of lifestyle improvement to the subject, the highest requirements by the Sasang constitution were physical exercise for Soumin, regulation of body weight for Taeumin, and it showed significant difference. For the requirement of primary care by the constitution, the highest requiremetns were obesity control for Taeumin, blood pressure control for Soumin, Soyangin, and liver suspicion was the highest distribution for each constitution in the case of having decision for secondary suspicion.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

The relationship between ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) activity and the characteristics of related pod setting in developing seed of soybean cv. Pungsannamulkong, Iksannamulkong, Geumjeongkong #1 and Danpaheuk was studied. AGP activity during the accumulate of the majority of dry matter in all cultivars suggested that this enzyme might be associated with this process. At the Vn and R1 stages, AGP activity of full-grown leaves of Pungsannamulkong, Iksannamulkong, Geumjeongkong #1 was the highest and then decreased progressively. However AGP activity of Danpaheuk was the lowest and also had lower seed weight. So regulation of matter accumulation in developing soybean seeds may also depend on AGP activity. AGP capacities as expressed by AGP activity seem to have a good predicting value for the dry matter of leaf and seed at R1 to R5 stages in our series of R3 stage genotypes. Western blots probed with antibody specific to the subunit of potato AGP revealed a single 60KD immunoreactive band that changed in intensity during the growth cycle in association with changes in total AGP activity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with multiple metabolic disorders. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa L. is widely distributed in Asia and has been used to treat a spectrum diseases in clinical practice. To date, there are inadequate reports of the effects of C. longa 50% EtOH extract (CE) on NAFLD. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the CE on an NAFLD animal and elucidate the mechanism of action. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) were treated with CE or milk thistle, and changes in inflammation and stetosis were assessed. Experimental animals were divided into six group (n = 10); Normal, MCD, MCD + CE 50 mg/kg/day (CE 50), MCD + CE 100 mg/kg/day (CE 100), MCD + CE 150 mg/kg/day (CE 150), and the Control, MCD + Milk thistle 150 mg/kg/day (MT 150). Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and histological changes were assessed in experimental animals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed on samples collected after 4 weeks of treatment. We observed that CE administration improved MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. Treatment with CE also decreased hepatic lipogenesis through modulation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expresion. In addition, the use of CE increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and inhibited the up-regulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 signaling and the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: In this report, we observed that CE regulated lipid accumulation in an MCD dietinduced NAFLD model by decreasing lipogenesis. These data suggeste that CE could effectively protect mice against MCD-induced NAFLD, by inhibiting the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling cascades.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to identify common genetic factors associated with the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass index (BMI) in obese Korean women including overweight. This will be a basic study for future research of obese gene-BMR interaction. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The experimental design was 2 by 2 with variables of BMR and BMI. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted in the overweight and obesity (BMI > $23kg/m^2$) compared to the normality, and in women with low BMR (< 1426.3 kcal/day) compared to high BMR. A total of 140 SNPs reached formal genome-wide statistical significance in this study (P < $1{\times}10^{-4}$). Surveys to estimate energy intake using 24-h recall method for three days and questionnaires for family history, a medical examination, and physical activities were conducted. RESULTS: We found that two NRG3 gene SNPs in the 10q23.1 chromosomal region were highly associated with BMR (rs10786764; $P=8.0{\times}10^{-7}$, rs1040675; $2.3{\times}10^{-6}$) and BMI (rs10786764; $P=2.5{\times}10^{-5}$, rs10786764; $6.57{\times}10^{-5}$). The other genes related to BMI (HSD52, TMA16, MARCH1, NRG1, NRXN3, and STK4) yielded P < $10{\times}10^{-4}$. Five new loci associated with BMR and BMI, including NRG3, OR8U8, BCL2L2-PABPN1, PABPN1, and SLC22A17 were identified in obese Korean women (P < $1{\times}10^{-4}$). In the questionnaire investigation, significant differences were found in the number of starvation periods per week, family history of stomach cancer, coffee intake, and trial of weight control in each group. CONCLUSION: We discovered several common BMR- and BMI-related genes using GWAS. Although most of these newly established loci were not previously associated with obesity, they may provide new insights into body weight regulation. Our findings of five common genes associated with BMR and BMI in Koreans will serve as a reference for replication and validation of future studies on the metabolic rate.