Herbal extract THI improves metabolic abnormality in mice fed a high-fat diet

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

Identifying the Effect of Personal, Foodservice and Organizational Characteristics on Foodservice Managers' Job Satisfaction by the Contract Management Company Scale / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influences of contract foodservice managers' personal characteristics, foodservice characteristics and organizational characteristics on job satisfaction, including interpersonal relationships, self-actualization and promotion opportunity categories. A survey was administered to four hundred contract foodservice managers of five large companies and five small/medium companies in the Seoul and Kyungin areas. The final response rate was 66% (N = 265), and the data were analyzed using SPSS Windows (ver. 12.0). The respondents were 76.1% female, average age 28.8 years, and 73.0% were regular workers. Contract foodservices have profit and loss contracts (69.1%), single menu types (59.6%) and buffet serving styles (37.7%). There are significant differences of job satisfaction by some personal characteristic variables (gender, martial status, age, education, position, work hours, period of working for the present company, and payroll per year) and foodservice characteristic variables (type of contract and charge of food costs). In three job satisfaction categories, foodservice managers reported the highest interpersonal relationship satisfaction, following self-actualization satisfaction and promotion opportunity satisfaction in both large companies and small/medium companies. However, foodservice managers of large companies tended to be more satisfied regarding their promotion opportunities than foodservice managers of small/medium companies (P < 0.05). Work hours, number of meals served/day, male, workload, communication with the clients, relationship with co-workers, obvious role and autonomy were significant factors to increase the job satisfaction in contract foodservices of large companies. On the other hand, relationships with co-workers and males were significant factors to increase the job satisfaction in contract foodservices of small/medium companies. This research suggests that contract foodservice companies need to understand the characteristics of their managers, foodservices and organizations to enhance the job satisfaction of foodservice managers and to develop specified human resource management strategies that can be applied to each company scale.

Predictors of Employment Intention for Mentally Disabled Persons / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the predictors of employment intention for mentally disabled persons. METHODS: Mentally disabled persons who had participated in rehabilitation programs in one of 16 mental health centers and 9 community rehabilitation centers located in Seoul and Kyunggi province were recruited for this study. A random sampling method was used and 414 respondents were used for final analysis. Data was analyzed by Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS Win 14.0. RESULTS: The predictors influencing employment intention of the mentally disabled person were observed as employment desire (beta=.48), guardian's expectation (beta=.26), professional's support (beta=.23), financial management (beta=.10), eating habits (beta=.07), and quality of life (beta=-.01). Six factors explained 61.1% of employment intention of mentally disabled persons. CONCLUSION: The employment intention of a mentally disabled person was influenced by employment desire, diet self-efficacy, guardian's expectation, professional's support, quality of life, financial management and eating habits.