Dual effects of a mixture of grape pomace (Campbell Early) and Omija fruit ethanol extracts on lipid metabolism and the antioxidant defense system in diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of a combination of grape pomace (Vitis labrusca, Campbell Early) and Omija fruit (Schizandra chinensis, Baillon) ethanol extracts on lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system in diet-induced obese mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups and fed high-fat diet (control group, CON) or high-fat diet added 0.5% grape pomace extract (GPE), 0.05% Omija fruit extract (OFE) or 0.5% GPE plus 0.05% OFE (GPE+OFE) for 12 weeks. RESULTS: In contrast to the GPE- or OFE-supplemented groups, the GPE+OFE group showed significantly lower body weight and white adipose tissue weights than the CON group. Moreover, GPE+OFE supplementation significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol and increased the plasma HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratio (HTR) compared to the control diet. The hepatic triglyceride level was significantly lower in the GPE+OFE and GPE groups by increasing beta-oxidation and decreasing lipogenic enzyme compared to the CON group. Furthermore, GPE+OFE supplementation significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities with a simultaneous decrease in liver H2O2 content compared to the control diet. CONCLUSIONS: Together our results suggest that supplementation with the GPE+OFE mixture may be more effective in improving adiposity, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in high-fat diet-fed mice than those with GPE and OFE alone.

Relationship among Nursing Service Quality, Medical Service Satisfaction, and Hospital Revisit Intent / 간호행정학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the influence of nursing service quality and medical service satisfaction on intent to revisit the hospital, and to identify mediating effects of medical service satisfaction between nursing service quality and intent to revisit the hospital. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey. Participants were 390 hospitalized patients at one general hospital in Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from July 21 to September 10, 2010 and analyzed using SPSS/PC version 18.0. RESULTS: The score for nursing service quality continuously improved but the scores for medical service satisfaction and intent to revisit the hospital did not changed significantly after estimated. Factors influencing intent to revisit the hospital were nursing service quality, medical service satisfaction, 'same religion', and 'Christian', and the explanation power of these four factors was 79.7%. Medical service satisfaction had a partial mediating effect between nursing service quality and intent to revisit the hospital. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that nursing service quality is a very important factor to improve both medical service satisfaction and intent to revisit the hospital. Nursing managers should develop strategies to improve nursing service quality.