Effects of sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in hemodialysis patients.

Background/objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is common in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to identify whether or not sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake have effects on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective was to identify the main determinants of serum vitamin D status in the study subjects.

The effects of elimination diet on nutritional status in subjects with atopic dermatitis.

A food allergy is an adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly upon exposure to a given food. In those with food allergies that are thought to cause aggravation of eczema, food avoidance is important. The objective of this study was to research the nutritional status of patients with food allergies.

Wilms' tumor gene 1 enhances nutlin-3-induced apoptosis.

Nutlin-3, a human double minute 2 (HDM2) antagonist, induces cell cycle arrest or apoptosis by upregulating p53 in cancer cells. WT1, the product of Wilms' tumor gene 1, has been shown to interact with p53, but the effect of WT1 on nutlin-3-induced apoptosis has yet to be examined. To address this issue, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of nutlin-3 on cell growth as a function of Wt1 expression status using a Wt1-inducible U2OS cell line.

Characterization of food allergies in patients with atopic dermatitis.

We examined the characteristics of food allergy prevalence and suggested the basis of dietary guidelines for patients with food allergies and atopic dermatitis. A total of 2,417 patients were enrolled in this study. Each subject underwent a skin prick test as well as serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) measurement.

Cardioprotective effects of diet with different grains on lipid profiles and antioxidative system in obesity-induced rats.

In the present study, the nutritional quality of four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) were evaluated in terms of plasma lipid parameters, gut transit time, and thickness of the aortic wall in rats. The rats were then raised for 4 weeks on the high-fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93 G) diets containing 1 % cholesterol and 20 % dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the following grains: WR, AD, BW, or WB.

Effects of adlay, buckwheat, and barley on transit time and the antioxidative system in obesity induced rats.

In the present study, we examined whether four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) affect the duration of food residence in the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic enzyme activities in rats fed different combinations of the grains. The rats were raised for 4 weeks on a high fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93G) diets containing 1% cholesterol and 20% dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into four groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the grains.

The effect of a healthy school tuck shop program on the access of students to healthy foods.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a healthy school tuck shop program, developed as a way of creating a healthy and nutritional school environment, on students' access to healthy foods. Five middle schools and four high schools (775 students) participated in the healthy school tuck shop program, and nine schools (1,282 students) were selected as the control group. The intervention program included restriction of unhealthy foods sold in tuck shops, provision of various fruits, and indirect nutritional education with promotion of healthy food products.

Prooxidant properties of ascorbic acid in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of C57BL/6 mice.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a well-known reducing agent; however, under appropriate condition, it can facilitate oxidation. In this study, we investigated the effect of AA on dopamine (DA) and glutathione levels in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of male seven-week-old C57BL/6 mice (weight, 23-25 g). Mice were treated with AA (400 mg/kg, i.

IL-10 is predominantly produced by CD19(low)CD5(+) regulatory B cell subpopulation: characterisation of CD19 (high) and CD19(low) subpopulations of CD5(+) B cells.

IL-10 production by CD19(+)CD5(+) B cells was investigated, by determining the expression levels of CD19, a classical B cell marker. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with fluorescence-conjugated anti-CD5, anti-CD19, anti-IL-10, and Annexin V. Interestingly, IL-10-producing B cells were found to be localised within the CD19(low)CD5(+) B cell subset.

Effect of processed foods on serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein among children with atopic dermatitis.

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in school-age children has increased in industrialized countries. As diet is one of the main factors provoking AD, some studies have suggested that food additives in processed foods could function as pseudoallergens, which comprise the non-immunoglobulin E-mediated reaction. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is an eosinophil granule protein released during allergic reactions to food allergens in patients with AD.

Factors related to household food insecurity in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of food insecurity and to identify factors that contribute to it in the Republic of Korea.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Data were selected from a secondary data set, the third Korean Welfare Panel Study.

Allergen-specific transforming growth factor-β-producing CD19+CD5+ regulatory B-cell (Br3) responses in human late eczematous allergic reactions to cow's milk.

CD19(+)CD5(+) regulatory B cells produce transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in both mouse and human B-cell leukemias. In this study, TGF-β was uniquely produced by normal human regulatory B cells. TGF-β-producing regulatory B-cell (Br3) responses were characterized through allergic responses to cow's milk.

The effects of yellow soybean, black soybean, and sword bean on lipid levels and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats.

Soy isoflavones have been reported to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. However, the effects of dietary consumption of soybean have not been explored. In this study, we evaluated the effects of consuming yellow soybeans, black soybeans (Glycine max), or sword beans (Canavalia gladiate) on lipid and oxidative stress levels in an ovariectomized rat model.

The effects of uncoupling protein 1 and beta3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms on weight loss and lipid profiles in obese women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the genetic polymorphisms of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and beta 3 adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) were associated with differences in weight loss and lipid profiles in obese premenopausal women exposed to low-calorie meal replacements over a period of six weeks. Forty women between the ages of 20 and 35 were randomly divided into two groups, each of which consumed one of two low-calorie meal replacements containing either white rice or mixed rice. Although body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood glucose concentration, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were not significantly different by the UCP1 genotype in the white rice group, there were significant differences in body weight (p = 0.

Characterisation of allergen-specific responses of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Br1) in Cow Milk Allergy.

CD19+CD5+ regulatory B cells regulate immune responses by producing IL-10. IL-10-producing regulatory B cell (Br1) responses by allergen stimulation were investigated in human food allergy. Six milk allergy patients and eight milk-tolerant subjects were selected according to DBPCFC.

Effect of soybeans and sword beans on bone metabolism in a rat model of osteoporosis.

Background/aims: Soy isoflavones have been reported to prevent bone loss in rat models of osteoporosis. However, the effect of the natural soybeans that people consume in their diet needs to be explored. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of yellow and black soybeans (Glycine max), and sword beans (Canavalia gladiate) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone biomarkers in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

The factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in the second trimester pregnant women.

Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to fetal and maternal health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting birth weight and gestational age and to provide basic data to promote more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Data were collected from 234 pregnant women at two hospitals in Seoul.

A pilot study of interferon-gamma-induced specific oral tolerance induction (ISOTI) for immunoglobulin E-mediated anaphylactic food allergy.

Food-induced anaphylaxis is a life-threatening, IgE-mediated disease. No specific therapeutic recommendations, aside from the avoidance of offending foods, exist at this time. However, specific oral tolerance induction for food allergy has been investigated by several groups.

Planar-lightwave-circuit-based duplexer for gigabit-capable passive optical network/gigabit Ethernet passive optical network applications.

We suggest a compact and efficient duplexer using the multimode interference (MMI) effect and the extraneous self-imaging phenomenon for gigabit-capable passive optical network and gigabit Ethernet passive optical network applications. To experimentally evaluate the suggested duplexer, silica-based MMI couplers were tested using light sources with wavelengths of 1310 and 1490 nm. From the experimental results, this device showed relative output powers of -0.

Meal replacement with mixed rice is more effective than white rice in weight control, while improving antioxidant enzyme activity in obese women.

The physiologic consequences of using white rice or mixed rice were evaluated in overweight Korean women (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m(2)) over a period of 6 weeks. Forty women between 20 and 35 years of age were randomly divided into 2 groups who consumed 1 of 2 low-energy meal replacements containing either white rice (WR group) or mixture of brown rice and black rice (BRBL group). The subjects were not allowed to have any food other than the low-energy meal replacement 3 times a day and snacks provided by the researcher.

Effects of seaweed supplementation on blood glucose concentration, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the physiological effects of seaweed supplementation on blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzyme activities in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects were randomized into either a control group or a seaweed supplementation group. Pills with equal parts of dry powdered sea tangle and sea mustard were provided to the seaweed supplementation group three times a day for 4 weeks.

Effect of adlay, buckwheat and barley on lipid metabolism and aorta histopathology in rats fed an obesogenic diet.

Background/aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional quality of adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW) and waxy barley (WB), with particular respect to their fiber components. Plasma lipid parameters, gut transit time and thickness of the aortic wall in rats fed with different grains were evaluated and compared with rats fed on white rice (WR).

Methods: The rats were then raised for 4 weeks on an obesogenic diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93 G) diets containing 1% cholesterol and 20% dietary lipids.

Nitrate intake relative to antioxidant vitamin intake affects gastric cancer risk: a case-control study in Korea.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the intake of nitrate relative to antioxidant vitamin rather than absolute intake of nitrate affects the risk of gastric cancer (GC). In a case-control study in Korea using a food frequency questionnaire, trained dietitians interviewed 136 GC cases and an equal number of controls matched by sex and age. As an index of nitrate intake relative to antioxidant vitamins intake, we calculated the nitrate:antioxidant vitamin consumption ratio.

Fruits, vegetables, soy foods and breast cancer in pre- and postmenopausal Korean women: a case-control study.

We carried out a case-control study to examine the relationship between fruits, vegetables, and soy foods intake with breast cancer risk in Korean women. Incident cases (n = 359) were identified through cancer biopsies and hospital-based controls (n = 708) were selected in the same hospitals. Subjects were asked to indicate usual dietary habits, which were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (98 items).