The Association between Serum Uric Acid Levels and the Nutrients Adequacy Ratio among Male Adult Koreans -Based on the 2016∼2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-

This study evaluated the correlation between serum uric acid level and the nutrients adequacy ratio (NAR) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016∼2019. This is a cross-sectional study in which 6,579 Korean male adults were divided into quartiles according to their uric acid levels. All analyses were performed with adjusted age. Uric acid decreased as the age increased from the age group 19∼29 years to 30∼49 years and then to 50∼64 years. Interquartile results of serum uric acid levels showed that increases in the serum uric acid levels were associated with decreases in LDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), triglycerides (P＜0.001), body weight (P＜0.001), waist circumference (P＜0.001), body mass index (P＜0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P＜0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P＜0.001). However, uric acid levels decreased with an increase in HDL cholesterol (P＜0.001). The analysis of the NARs according to the quartiles of serum uric acid levels in men showed that an increase in serum uric acid levels was associated with a decrease in the NAR levels of dietary fiber (P＜0.001), calcium (P＜0.001), and folic acid (P＜0.001).

The Effects of Moxibustion on Chronic Back Pain and Activities of Daily Living in Aged / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was attempted in order to verify the effects of moxibustion on aged back pain and activities of daily living. METHODS: A research design is quasi-experiment with pre-post test design in nonequivalent control group. As for data collection and experimental treatment, it accidentally sampled totally 50 people with 24 people for the experimental group and 26 people for the control group who appeal for chronic back pain aged over 60 who visited 4 senior centers where are located in N city from November 7, 2012 to December 3, 2012. Experimental treatment was carried out moxibustion totally 12 times by 3 times for 4 weeks in the experimental group. Data analysis was made by using SPSS program. As an analytical technique, the experimental group and the control group were analyzed the homogeneity verification with t-test, Fisher's exact test and chi2 test and the hypothesis verification with t-test. RESULTS: The back pain level was reduced in the experimental group than the control group. The disability of daily living activities was reduced in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion was considered to be likely useful therapeutic method for effects of chronic back pain and disability of daily living activities in aged.

Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Nocturia and Insomnia in the Elderly / 재활간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of auricular acupressure therapy on insomnia and nocturia in the elderly. METHODS: This study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Data collection was conducted from July 1 to August 31, 2013. Subjects were set for totally 36 people with 18 people in the experimental group and 18 people in the control group among the elderly over the age of 60 in silver town, welfare center, and senior citizen center where are located in Seoul area. For the experimental group, auricular acupressure therapy was applied two times during 5 days by fixing it to auricular reaction site with tape using Sinapis alba L. seeds. With SPSS/WIN 19.0 program, the collected data were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the sleeping score and sleeping satisfaction were improved and nocturia frequency was lowered in the experimental group who applied auricular acupressure therapy. CONCLUSION: Auricular acupressure therapy was considered to be likely useful therapeutic method for the effects of relieving nocturia and insomnia in elderly.

Effects of Plant Water Extract Codonopsis Lanceolatae on Mouse Immune Cell Activation Ex Vivo

Codonopsis lanceolatae has been used as one of the traditional remedies as well as food source. However, few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. We previously reported that ex vivo supplementation of Codonopsis lanceolatae water extracts enhanced splenocyte proliferation compared to the control group. In order to elucidate its ex vivo effect, six to seven week old balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of Codonopsis lanceolatae were orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y]-2,5-diphenyl terazolium bromide) assay. The production of cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, was detected by ELISA assay using a cytokine kit. After 48 hrs of incubation with the mitogen (ConA or LPS) stimulation, the mice splenocyte proliferation in experimental group was statistically increased at two different concentrations than that in control group. The cytokines production was more significantly enhanced at the lower supplementation (500 mg/kg B.W.) group rather than higher concentration (500 mg/kg B.W.) compared to the control group. The results of this study may suggest that the supplementation of water extract of plant mixture could regulate the immune function by increasing the splenocyte proliferation and enhance the immune function through regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

Scale Development for Measuring the Brand Images of Contract Foodservice Management Companies

The aim of this study was to measure the brand images of contract foodservice management companies by identifying brand image attributes and then developing a measurement scale to measure the weight of these attributes. The measurement scale was developed by following a 5-stage process that included face-to-face interviews with experts, literature review, questionnaire surveys, verification of scale validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. A total of 137 items measuring brand image were collected: 37 items from studies of brand image and corporate image, 55 items from studies of contract foodservice management companies and 45 items from the internet and websites of contract foodservice management companies. A survey was then conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire items. Ultimately, the 137 items were reduced to 40 items. The calculated Cronbach's alpha for the 40 brand image items was 0.934, demonstrating good internal consistency. Based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), employee attitude, menu content, corporate image, dining location and ambience, along with 33 subattributes, were identified as brand image attributes. Employee attitude was the most significant attribute influencing brand image. After confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a review process, four brand image attributes and 33 subattributes were finalized and incorporated into the scale.

Effects of Plant Water Extract Mixture Ixeris sonchifolia Hance, Oenanthevjavanica, Fagopyrum Esculentum Moench, Hizikia Fusiforme, Zingiber Officinale Roscoe on Mouse Immune Cell Activation Ex vivo

Ixeris sonchifolia Hance (Godulbaegi), Oenanthe javanica (Dolminari), Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (Buckwheat), Hizikia fusiforme (Seaweed Fusiforme) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) have been used respectively as one of folk remedies as well as food materials. However, reportedly few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been made, although it has been known from other preceding studies that the ex vivo supplementation of each Ish, Oj, Fem, Hf, Zor water extracts tends to enhance the proliferation of splenocyte in comparison to the control group. This study on the combined immunomodulative effect of water extract mixture of these five food materials (Ish + Oj + Fem + Hf + Zor) lasted covering seven or eight weeks. The old mice (balb/c) was fed ad libitum on chow diet, and the water extract of plant mixture was orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocyte was determined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y]-2,5- diphenyl terazolium bromide) assay. The production of cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) which was secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not was detected by ELISA assay using the cytokine kit. After the 48 hours of incubation with the mitogen (ConA or LPS) stimulation, the proliferation of the mice splenocyt in the experimental group statisticaly increased at both of two different concentrations in comparison to the control group. The cytokines production was more significantly enhanced at the lower supplementation (50 mg/kg B.W.) group than at the higher concentration (500 mg/kg B.W.). The result of this study may suggest that the supplementation of water extract of plant mixture can regulate and enhance the immune function by increasing the splenocyte proliferation and regulating the cytokine production capacity by the activated macrophages in mice.

A Study on Use State and Satisfaction for Commercial Brand Kimchi of Women in Seoul Area

This study was to investigate women's use state and satisfaction for commercial brand kimchi. Survey was carried out by questionnaire method that was target on 322 female in Seoul. The results of study was that women who purchased commercial brand kimchi, 40% consider its taste the most essential component of purchasing commercial brand kimchi. 63.4% respondents prefer purchasing poggi kimchi among other different types of commercial brand kimchi. Commercial brand kimchi consumers were highly satisfied with kimchi package or service and then taste, while its price and sanitation were factors that they were low satisfied. According to correlation analysis among satisfaction components, there were positive correlations between taste, price, sanitation, fermentation degree and other factors.

Effect of Hizikia Fusiforme Water Extracts on Mouse Immune Cell Activation

Hizikia fusiforme (sea weed fusiforme) has long been used for food source in this country. This study was performed to evalute the immunomodulative effects of Hizikia fusiforme (sea weed fusiforme) in mouse, using in vivo experiments. In vivo experiment, different concentration (0, 50, 500 mg/kg B.W.) of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for two weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the production of three cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha) secreted by activated macrophage. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50 mg/kg B.W. and 500 mg/kg B.W. concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen from the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50 mg/kg B.W. Also, the mouse of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts supplementation group in the both concentrations showed enhanced levels of cytokine production by activated peritoneal macrophages compared to those in control group. The highest level of cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha) production was observed at 50 mg/kg B.W. supplementation group with LPS stimulation in all cases.

Effects of Job's Tear(Yul-Moo) Extracts on Mouse Immune Cell Activation

Natural products are increasingly appreciated as a lead for drug discovery and development. A number of investigators have studied various activities of natural products and have found that they have not only nutritional effects but also beneficial properties to cure various diseases and to maintain good health. Job's Tear(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop that have long been used in traditional medicine and a nourishing food. Job's Tear has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and has been used in China for the treatment of warts, rheumatism, and neuralgia although its mechanism remains unclear. Previous results in our laboratory demonstrated that the ethanol extract and water extract of Job's Tear exerted an immune regulatory function on mice cells in vitro. The present study was performed to investigate the ex vivo effect of Job's Tear on immune function. Seven to eight weeks old mices(Balb/c) were fed ad libitum on chow diet and water extract of Job's Tear were orally administrated every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500mg/kg B.W.). Proliferation of mice spenocytes and antibody production to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) using hemolytic plague forming cell assay were used to indicate the immune activity. Splenocytes proliferation of Job's Tear with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS was enhanced at 50 mg/kg B.W. concentrations compared to those of control group. In case of antibody production to sheep red blood cells, the number of antibody- secreting cells was increased by administration of 50mg/kg B.W. concentration in mice immunized as a T-dependent antigen. From the present study, Job's Tear water extracts may be suggested to stimulate the mice immune response by enhancing the splenocytes proliferation and the number of plague forming cells.

Effect of Zingiber Officinale Roscoe Extracts on Mice Immune Cell Activation

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. As a component of traditional health products, Ginger is known to be effective as appetite enhancer, anticold and anti-inflammation. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger in mouse, using in vitro and ex vivo experiments. In vitro experiment, the mice splenocytes proliferation and three kinds of cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) prodution by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Ginger were used to indicate the immunomodulative effect. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger ex vivo, water extract of Ginger was orally administrated into mice, and isolated splencytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. Ex vivo experiment, six to seven week old mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extract of Ginger was orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentractions (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W./day). In vitro study, the splenocytes proliferation was increased when water extract was supplemented in the range of 50-500 microliter/ml concentration. In case of cytokines production, IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha released by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the supplementation of water extract of the Ginger. Ex vivo experiment, the highest proliferation of splenocytes and production of cytokines by activated peritoneal macrophages were seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg B.W./day. In conclusion, this study suggests that Ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and enhancing the cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

Enhancing Effect of Zingiber Officinale Roscoe Extracts on Mouse Spleen and Macrophage Cells Activation

Recently many investigators have initiated searches for immunomodulating substances from natural food sources. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts of the plant were orally administrated into mice, and isolated splenocytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. In order to identify its ex vivo effect six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extracts of ginger were orally administrated every other day for two weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT assay. The result of ex vivo study showed that the highest proliferation of splenocytes and macrophage activatation was seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg b. w. of ginger water extracts. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.