BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with insulin resistance. Compound K (CK) is the final metabolite of panaxadiol ginsenosides that have been shown to exert antidiabetic effects. However, the molecular mechanism of the antidiabetic effects in the liver have not been elucidated; further, whether CK has beneficial effects in hepatosteatosis remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of CK on hepatosteatosis as well as its mechanism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. METHODS: Twenty-four-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to four groups: control (saline), CK 10 mg/kg, CK 25 mg/kg, or metformin 300 mg/kg (positive control); all treatments were administered orally for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Fasting glucose levels of the CK25 group were significantly lower than those of the control group during the 12 weeks. The results of the oral glucose tolerance test showed that both the glucose concentration after glucose loading and the fasting insulin levels of the CK25 group were significantly lower than those of the control. Hepatosteatosis was significantly improved by CK25. CK25 and metformin significantly increased the phosphorylation of hepatic adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). CK25 significantly inhibited the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase, while upregulating that of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1. CONCLUSIONS: CK improved glucose intolerance and hepatosteatosis in HFD-fed OLETF rats through AMPK activation, which has dual mode of action that involves decreasing the synthesis of fatty acids and increasing fatty acid oxidation.
Adenosine ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Carnitine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fasting ; Fatty Acids ; Ginsenosides ; Glucose Intolerance* ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; Male ; Metformin ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Peroxisomes ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF*

The objective of this study is to develop a nutrition policy on food and nutrition labeling and education systems for fast food and carbonated soft drinks in Korea by identifying the fast food and soft drink use and by examining nutrition policies and labeling in Korea and other countries. Fast food is defined as food dispensed quickly at a restaurant generally offering a limited menu of inexpensive items, which may be mostly not nutritious. It is a growing component of the Korean diet, especially on children and adolescent population. Low nutrient dense beverages such as carbonated drinks are also increasing in the children and adolescent's diet in Korea and concern has been raised that these beverages may replace more nutritious beverage and provide empty calories. According to 2001 Korean national health and nutrition survey, fast food and carbonated soft drinks were most popular among 13 - 19 years old adolescents. Thirty six and 72 percent of adolescents consumed hamburger and carbonated beverage equal to or more than once a week, respectively. In United States, all processed food including soft drinks should disclose full nutrition information by nutrition labeling requirement. Restaurant foods are not required to provide nutrition information currently, but legislation on mandatory nutrition labeling of fast foods with other restaurant foods has been proposed currently in US. The sales of foods of minimal nutritional value, such as soft drinks, in the nation's schools is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Nutrition information about fast food in US has been provided by fast food companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals and government through internet, booklet and brochure, etc, but the information is available from only a few resources in Korea. This study suggests a nutrition policy on fast food and soft drink use which includes establishing mandatory nutrition labeling and developing nutrition education materials and programs by web-site, booklet and government and school programs in Korea.
Adolescent ; Beverages ; Carbon* ; Carbonated Beverages* ; Child ; Commerce ; Diet ; Education* ; Fast Foods* ; Food Labeling* ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea* ; Nutrition Policy* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritive Value ; Organizations, Nonprofit ; Pamphlets ; Restaurants ; United States ; United States Department of Agriculture ; Young Adult

The cellular entry of severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mediated by interaction with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor that is expressed on both lung and intestinal epithelial cells. We performed a quantitative proteomic analysis to investigate the expression of possible receptors for SARS-CoV-2 in the intestinal mucosa of 23 patients with chronic colitis. ACE2 expression was low and remained unaltered in the gut of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD), intestinal Behćet’s disease (BD), and intestinal tuberculosis (TB), when compared with that of healthy individuals. Additionally, the expression levels of some probable co-receptors, including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), aminopeptidase N (AMPN), and glutamyl aminopeptidase (AMPE), were unchanged in the affected UC, CD, intestinal BD, and intestinal TB colon mucosa samples. In conclusion, gut inflammation associated with chronic colitis does not mediate a further increase in the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose: : This systematic review was conducted to identify which dyadic intervention could be implemented for heart failure patient–family caregiver dyads to improve patient and/or their family caregivers outcomes.Method : Eleven databases were searched from their inception to July, 2021. This review considered any randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of intervention including heart failure patient-family caregiver dyads. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias and extracted details of the included studies. The studies included in this review were not suitable for meta-analysis and therefore the results were presented as a narrative summary. Results: : Six studies including 900 dyads were included and mainly primary family caregiver of patients was spouse. Majority of dyadic intervention were focused on psychoeducational intervention excepting one study on mobile health intervention. All studies included in this review focused on patients’ outcomes compared to family caregivers’ outcomes and dyadic outcomes. Individual interventions improved quality of life among heart failure patients and their family caregivers in two articles. The overall quality of selected articles was low. Conclusions : This study provides moderate support for the use of a dyadic intervention to improve quality of life among heart failure patients and their family caregivers. More rigorous high-quality studies investigating interventions to meet the needs of patient and family caregivers in heart failure care are needed.

OBJECTIVE: To explore potential relationships between sperm DNA integrity and both semen parameters and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Semen analysis of 498 samples was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the World Health Organization. The sperm DNA fragmentation Index (DFI) of the semen samples was assessed using a neutral comet assay. RESULTS: Sperm DFI showed a significant correlation with semen parameters, including the patient's age, sperm viability, motility, morphology, and number of leukocytes (p<0.05). The sperm DFI values for asthenozoospermic (15.2%), oligoteratozoospermic (18.3%), asthenoteratozoospermic (17.5%), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic semen samples (21.3%) were significantly higher than that observed in normozoospermic semen samples (10.5%, p<0.05). A sperm DFI value of 14% was used as a threshold of sperm DFI in assessing whether DNA was highly damaged. In 114 IVF-ET cycles, the fertilization rate of the sperm DFI <14% group (70 cycles, 61.7%) was significantly higher than that observed for the > or =14% group (44 cycles, 55.3%), but there was no difference in the other clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the > or =14% group, the pregnancy rates of the ICSI cycles (40.0%) and half-ICSI (44.0%) were higher than conventional IVF cycles (30.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Along with the conventional semen analysis, the sperm DFI assessed using the comet assay was shown to improve the quality of the semen evaluation. To evaluate the precise effect of ICSI on pregnancy rates in the patients who demonstrate high sperm DFI values, further study is necessary.
Comet Assay ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; World Health Organization

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a cruciferous vegetable, and its leaves have antioxidant and anticancer properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethyl acetate extracts from radish leaves on hypertension in 11-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The SHRs were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each on the basis of initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) and were treated with oral administration of radish leaf extract (0, 30, or 90 mg/kg body weight [bw], respectively) for 5 weeks. Six Wistar rats were used as normotensive controls. The amount of the radish leaf extract had no effect on body weight. The SBP of the SHRs showed a decreasing trend with the consumption of the radish leaf extract. In the third week, the SBP of the group fed 90 mg extract/kg bw reduced from 214 mmHg to 166 mmHg and was significantly lower than that of the normotensive and hypertensive controls. The extract did not show a significant effect on the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in the serum, kidney, and lung. The extract increased the concentration of NO in serum and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and catalase in red blood cells (RBCs). The serum concentrations of Na+ and K+ were not significantly different between all groups. However, the fecal concentrations of Na+ and K+ increased; the fecal concentrations of Na+ and K+ for the normotensive and hypertensive controls were not different. Urinary excretion of Na+ was higher in the normotensive Wistar rats than in the SHRs, while that of K+ was not significantly different. These findings indicate that consumption of radish leaves might have had antihypertensive effects in SHRs by increasing the serum concentration of NO and fecal concentration of Na+ and enhancing antioxidant activities.
Acetates ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Catalase ; Erythrocytes ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Lung ; Raphanus ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar ; Vegetables

Histopathological findings of eosinophilic myositis in the carcass of a slaughtered Korean native cow are presented. Lesions contained massive fibrous septae with vacuolar changes in some lesions, and the hypercontraction and rupturing of muscle bundles, with replacement by eosinophils. Necrosis and severe eosinophil infiltration were observed. Sarcoplasmic fragmentation and atrophy developed. Typical of granuloma, calcified myofibers were focally surrounded by macrophages and numerous inflammatory cells, and multinucleated giant cell formation was evident.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*pathology ; Eosinophilia/pathology/*veterinary ; Female ; Muscle, Skeletal/*pathology ; Muscular Diseases/pathology/*veterinary

This study aimed to determine whether taurine supplementation improves metabolic disturbances and diabetic complications in an animal model for type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether taurine has therapeutic effects on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and diabetic complications in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats with long-term duration of diabetes. Fourteen 50-week-old OLETF rats with chronic diabetes were fed a diet supplemented with taurine (2%) or a non-supplemented control diet for 12 weeks. Taurine reduced blood glucose levels over 12 weeks, and improved OGTT outcomes at 6 weeks after taurine supplementation, in OLETF rats. Taurine significantly reduced insulin resistance but did not improve beta-cell function or islet mass. After 12 weeks, taurine significantly decreased serum levels of lipids such as triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Taurine significantly reduced serum leptin, but not adiponectin levels. However, taurine had no therapeutic effect on damaged tissues. Taurine ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, at least in part, by improving insulin sensitivity and leptin modulation in OLETF rats with long-term diabetes. Additional study is needed to investigate whether taurine has the same beneficial effects in human diabetic patients.
Adipokines/blood ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy ; Dietary Supplements ; Dyslipidemias/blood/*drug therapy ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hyperglycemia/blood/*drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Hypolipidemic Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Insulin/physiology/secretion ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/physiology/secretion ; Leptin/*blood ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Rats ; Rats, Long-Evans ; Taurine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology

Osteoporosis and other related conditions pose a growing public health problem, especially in postmenopausal women. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the correlations among BMD, maternal factors, and life styles, and intake of nutrients in postmenopausal women. One hundred participants in Kyungge-do were divided into three groups according to their BMD measurements measured by DXA. Dietary analysis, anthropometric measurements, and questionares were administered to these women. The percentage of the osteoporosis, osteopenia(Osteopinia), and normal groups were 32%, 48%, and 20% respectively. The average age was significantly the highest in the osteoporosis group. The average age at menopause was 47.2. Osteoporosis group's age at menopause was significantly the lowest. The sleeping hours of the osteoporosis and osteopenia group were significantly longer than the normal group. The intake of vitamin B2 was positively correlated with the BMD of femoral neck. The BMD of these two sites was positively correlated with weight, BMI, waist, and hip size and negatively correlated with the length of the menstrual cycle, duration after menopause, the age at the last delivery, and sleeping hours. Spinal BMD positively correlated with hours of outdoor activity. Therefore, maternal factors, lifestyles, and intake of nutrients contribute to BMD.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Hip ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Menopause ; Menstrual Cycle ; Nutritional Status* ; Osteoporosis ; Public Health ; Riboflavin

PURPOSE: L-asparaginase is a crucial chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, hypersensitivity to L-asparaginase is common which limits its clinical use. METHODS: We performed 44 cases of premedication and 3 cases of desensitization in 16 patients with hypersensitivity to L-asparaginase. RESULTS: With premedication, 33 cases completed L-asparaginase injection with no hypersensitivity reactions. Eleven cases showed mild hypersensitivity reactions, such as urticaria. Desensitization was performed in 3 cases: in 2 cases, desensitization was successful, and in 1 case the medication was switched to Erwinia asparaginase. CONCLUSION: Premedication and desensitization appear to be useful in helping patients receive desired doses of L-asparaginase in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Asparaginase ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Erwinia ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Premedication* ; Urticaria