• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.520-525
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• 2018

Cardiovascular diseases arising from atherosclerosis are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Lipid-lowering agents have been developed in order to treat hypercholesterolemia, a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing, indicating a need to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop new treatment agents. Adenosine receptors (ARs) are emerging as therapeutic targets in asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, ischemia, and inflammatory diseases. This study assessed whether LJ-1888, a selective antagonist for $A_3$ AR, can inhibit the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knock-out ($ApoE^{-/-}$) mice who are fed a western diet. Plaque formation was significantly lower in $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice administered LJ-1888 than in mice not administered LJ-1888, without any associated liver damage. LJ-1888 treatment of $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice prevented western diet-induced hypercholesterolemia by markedly reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and significantly increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Reduced hypercholesterolemia in $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice administered LJ-1888 was associated with the enhanced expression of genes involved in bile acid biosynthesis. These findings indicate that LJ-1888, a selective antagonist for $A_3$ AR, may be a novel candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.719-729
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• 1997

Stomach contents of bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, and yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, caught by longlining in the western tropical Pacific were analyzed to examine their foods and to compare their feeding behavior. The food species of both bigeye and yellowfin tunas were primarily fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. A total of 15 fish, 6 crustacean, and 1 cephalopod species were identified from their stomach contents, of which lantern fish (Myctophum sp.) was the most important food for both tuna species. No significant differences in species composition of food items between bigeye and yellowfin tunas were observed, indicating that in the same habitat the tunas have a similar feeding behavior. However, while they showed a remarkable similarity in diet composition, significant quantitative differences on the basis of IRI values were observed in several diet species, such as Myctophidae, Alepisauridae, Oplophoridae, Gammaridae, and Onychoteuthidae.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.346-358
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to find differences in dietary patterns through menu analysis by economic status. The data was obtained from the 1998 and 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey of Korea. The main variables were economic status, sex, and area by urbanization. The economic status was classified into low, middle, high, and top classes using a poverty line based on the 1998 and 2001 minimum standard cost of living. The areas were divided into metropolis, small city, and rural areas. The dishes of 3 meals were classified into 29 categories by cooking method. The most frequent pattern was "rice + soup + kimchi". The frequency of this Korean basic dietary pattern was the lowest in the top income class and metropolis areas, while the highest in the low income class and rural areas. The frequency of Korean recommended dietary pattern, that is, "rice + soup or stew + kimchi + side dish" was the highest in the top income class. The metropolis group preferred side dishes using meat and a cooking method that saved time, but the rural group preferred side dishes using vegetables and cooking methods that take a longer time. In comparison of dietary pattern between male and female by economic status, the higher economic status, the male's dietary patterns showed more side dishes than those of female. But the main side dish was kimchi in male low class. Consequently, the major dietary pattern in Korea is rice-style, though the western pattern is increasing in the top income class, especially in metropolis areas. Therefore, to make a better dietary pattern, we should develop and spread low-priced recipes of various side dishes and teach financial skills such as ability to make a food budget for lower income classes. Also, we should emphasize the importance of the balance between meat and vegetables and traditional diet and western diet for the top income class, especially in the metropolis areas.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.214-223
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• 2024

Metabolic abnormalities in the liver are closely associated with diverse metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorating effect of robinetin (RBN) on the significant pathogenic features of metabolic failure in the liver and to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. RBN significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis-related transcription factors in AML-12 murine hepatocyte cell line. In addition, mice fed with Western diet (WD) containing 0.025% or 0.05% RBN showed reduced liver mass and lipid droplet size, as well as improved plasma insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. CD38 was identified as a target of RBN using the BioAssay database, and its expression was increased in OPA-treated AML-12 cells and liver tissues of WD-fed mice. Furthermore, RBN elicited these effects through its anti-histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Computational simulation revealed that RBN can dock into the HAT domain pocket of p300, a histone acetyltransferase, which leads to the abrogation of its catalytic activity. Additionally, knock-down of p300 using siRNA reduced CD38 expression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that p300 occupancy on the promoter region of CD38 was significantly decreased, and H3K9 acetylation levels were diminished in lipid-accumulated AML-12 cells treated with RBN. RBN improves the pathogenic features of metabolic failure by suppressing the p300-CD38 axis through its anti-HAT activity, which suggests that RBN can be used as a new phytoceutical candidate for preventing or improving this condition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.628-636
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• 1999

There is a marked increase in geriatric disease, especially liver disease, due to the continuous increase in alcohol and fat consumption. Since the fatty liver, induced by alcohol or fat, is basically from abnormalities in the lipid metabolism, it is possible that fatty acid binding protein(FABP) which is related to the fatty acid metabolism may also be abnormal in these livers. FABP is a small molecular weight protein family present in cytosol in high concentration. It has been proposed as a fatty acid transfer protein and as a binding protein responsible for controlling intracellular free fatty acid concentration. In this research, we have examined the relationship between liver FABP and fatty liver induced by alcohol or high cholesterol diet. Rats were fed one of either semipurified liquid diets; control diet containing 65% carbohydrate, 20% protein, and 15% fat or high cholesterol diet containing 1%(w/w) cholesterol or alcohol diet containing 37% of alcohol instead of carbohydrate. After 5 weeks of feeding period, all rats received commercial chow diet for 5 weeks to examine recovery effect. Liver and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 weeks to analyze lipid compositions. FABP was purified from liver cytosol and injected to rabbit to obtain antiserum. Liver FABP amount was determined by SDS-PAGE and western blotting methods. Fatty acid binding capacity was determined by binding of 14Cpalmitate with the delipidated liver cytosol. Consumption of alcohol increased serum cholesterol, triglyceride concentration and decreased HDL-cholesterol concentration after 5 weeks. Serum apolipoprotein B concentration increased after 3 weeks and LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A concentration changed after 1 week. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride concentration increased after 3 weeks. Consumption of high cholesterol diet changed liver and serum lipid composition after 3 weeks. Swiching to normal diet for 5 weeks did not normalize most of lipid composition in serum and liver except serum and liver except serum cholesterol, triglyceride and liver cholesterol. Liver cytosol FABP content and the fatty acid binding capacity decreased dramatically after 1 week with alcohol consumption. This results indicate that FABP content changes before the changes before the changes of blood or liver lipid composition, suggesting changes of FABP may cause development of the fatty liver induced by alcohol and can be used as an index of detecting a early development of fatty liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.536-541
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• 2005

Obesity is emerging as one of the major risk factors of death in Korea as well as western societies. This study was performed to investigate the effect of kimchi with Monascus purpureus (Hongkuk) on liver function, plasma lipid composition of rats fed high fat diet for four weeks in rats. Rats were divided into the following 6 groups; I group (normal diet), II group (normal diet with $1\%$ kimchi powder using $5.0\%$ Hongkuk), III group (high fat diet), IV group (high fat diet with $1\%$ kimchi powder), V group (hish fat diet with $1\%$ kimchi powder using $2.5\%$ Hongkuk), and VI group (high fat diet with $1\%$ kimchi powder using $5\%$ Hongkuk). Weight gains showed to decrease in group IV, V, VI. Food intake and food efficiency ratio were no significantly different among the groups. Plasma total cholesterol showed to decrease with kimchi using Hongkuk. LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in kimchi using Hongkuk than that of control group. These results demonstrated that the kimchi and kimchi using Monascus purpureus(Hongkuk) decreased weight gains and lowered serum cholesterol levels in rat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.199-213
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• 1991

The purposes of this study were to: (a) identify the changes in food patterns for last 20 years; (b) analyze the factors affecting on the changes in food patterns; (c) investigate the impact of changes in food patterns on nutritional composition of the diet and diet-related health problems. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to 30 country members of the International Federation for Home Economics(IFHE) regional representatives. The response rate was 60%; simple descriptive and content analyses indicated that the significant differences of food consumption pattern were existed between western and eastern countries. Traditional food consumption patterns were maintained even though each countries' food consumption patterns have been dramatically changed due to the development of food technology and industrialization. The factors most frequently affecting on the changes in food patterns were nutrition and heallth-related educations. The food pattern changes have considerable effect on the nutritional composition of the diet among countries. The major diet-related health problems with nutrient deficiency were reported by underdeveloped countries such as India. In contrast to the above, in the developed countries, the adult disease related to the nutrition have been increased, while the developing countries such as Korea have the problems with nutrient deficiency and adult diseases simultaneously.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.17-30
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• 2013

Objectives This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of Mulberry leaves contained herbal mixture (MLHM) on body weight, serum lipid level and adipocyte differentiation in high fat diet-fed obese mice. Methods Four-week old mice (wild-type C57/BL6) were used for all experiments. Cells were incubated with MLHM at the indicated concentration (0.04-4mg/ml) for 24h, and growth rate was assessed by MTT ((3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were incubated in DMEM for 2 days with the indicated concentrations of MLHM, and on Day 6, the cells were fixed and the cellular lipid contents were assessed by Oil-Red-O staining. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR ${\gamma}$) and cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$) as adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by real time RT-PCR and western blotting. In addition, body weight gain and serum lipid levels were measured in the mice with obesity induced by the high fat-diet for four weeks. Results Though MLHM did not show toxicity even at the concentration of 4mg/ml, MLHM significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocites in a dose-dependent manner. Also, MLHM significantly reduced the expressions of PPAR ${\gamma}$ and C/EBP ${\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MLHM significantly reduced body weight gain and LDL-cholesterol contents in high fat diet-fed obese mice. Conclusions These results demonstrate that MLHM exerts anti-obesity effect in 3T3-L1 cells and mice with obesity by high-fat diet.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 1998

In order to independently examine the effects of long-chain saturated fatty acids and dietary cholesterol levels on plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations, six different diets were fed to male Mongolian gerbils (14 gerbils pes grcup) for an 8-week period. Purified diets contained 36% energy as fat (each saturated fatty acid tested comprised about 20% of the total fat energy) and 0.06% (w/w) cholesterol, corresponding to typical human consumption patterns in Western diets. Fat blends were formulated with natural fat sources. To determine the effects of different saturated fatty acids on plasma and liver cholesterol levels, four of the six diets contained constant levels of all nutrients except for the amounts of lauric acid (12 0), myristic acid (14 : 0), palmitic acid (16 0), and stearic acid (18 : 0). Dietary cholesterol effects were tested using 16 : 0-enriched diets containing 0, 0.006, and 0.06% (w/w) cholesterol. None of the plasma lipids were influenced by fatty acid treatment, including triglycerides, plasma total-, VLDL+LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol. However, hepatic esterified cholesterol concentrations were increased in the palmitic and stearic arid diet groups compared to the lauric and myristic acid diet group. The molar ratios of hepatic EC/FC were the highest in the palmitic acid diet (12.2 $\pm$0.6) and the lowest in the myristic acid diet (6.4$\pm$0.2). Dietary cholesterol significantly (p<0.001) increased the plasma total cholesterol which was due to the increase of both HDL-and VLDL+LDL-cholesterol. In the absence of dietary cholesterol and compared to other species, the gerbil exhibited a high molar ratio of hepatic EC/FC, which was funker elevated by dietary cholesterol feeding (0.06%). The results from this study indicate that hepatic cholesterol concentrations are sensitive to both low levels of dietary cholesterol and saturated fatty acid chain length and also, that plasma cholesterol concentrations are sensitive to low levels of dietary cholesterol .

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.96-103
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• 2012

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated whether the Aloe QDM complex could improve metabolic disorders related to blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 54 days received a supplement of Aloe QDM complex or pioglitazone (PGZ) or metformin (Met) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (high-fat diet; HFD) or mice fed a regular diet (RD). RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify the expression of obesity-induced inflammation. Dietary Aloe QDM complex lowered body weight, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, and leptin levels, and markedly reduced the impairment of glucose tolerance in obese mice. Also, Aloe QDM complex significantly enhanced plasma adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity via AMPK activity in muscles. At the same time, Aloe QDM decreased the mRNA and protein of $PPAR{\gamma}/LXR{\alpha}$ and scavenger receptors in white adipose tissue (WAT). Dietary Aloe QDM complex reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance not only by suppressing $PPAR{\gamma}/LXR{\alpha}$ but also by enhancing AMPK activity in the WAT and muscles, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.