• Title/Summary/Keyword: Amelioration effects

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Central Functions of Amino Acids for the Stress Response in Chicks

  • Yamane, H.;Kurauchi, I.;Denbow, D.M.;Furuse, Mitsuhiro
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.296-304
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    • 2009
  • The nutritional significance of essential amino acids, as well as non-essential amino acids, is well documented in poultry production with regards to growth performance and protein accretion. However, the function of amino acids in the stress response is still unclear. L-Pipecolic acid, a L-lysine metabolite in the brain, induced a hypnotic and sedative effect acting via the ${\gamma}$- aminobutyric acid receptors. L-Arginine also induced a sedative effect via its metabolism to L-ornithine. In addition, three-carbon nonessential amino acids like L-alanine, L-serine and L-cysteine also induced sedative effects. These facts suggest that the requirement for amino acids in both essential and non-essential types may require reconsideration to add the concept of stress amelioration in the future.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Course: A Case Study of PBL Class at Pusan National University (PBL 기반 <토의> 수업 모형의 구현과 평가: 부산대학교 수업개발 사례를 중심으로)

  • Hwang, Soon-Hee
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.88-96
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    • 2011
  • This paper aims to develop the learning contents of PBL based program and analyze the result of evaluation questionnaire to examine the students' thoughts concerning the effectiveness of PBL course and their satisfaction. 'Discussion' is one of the representative communicative types, especially requesting both communication competence and teamwork among team members. This study was conducted with 218 junior and senior students taking lectures of ${\ll}$Presentation and Debate Skills${\gg}$ in the college of engineering at Pusan National University. According to the evaluation result, students experienced various effects of PBL such as (1) self-directed learning, (2) cooperative learning, (3) problem solving skills, etc. Students pointed out also as merits of PBL course, (1) knowledge acquisition and information sharing among students, (2) improvement of communicative competence, (3) amelioration of teamwork, (4) progress of the problem solving skills. However, there have been several difficulties and problems during PBL process, implications for ameliorating PBL based were discussed and suggested in detail.

Neuropeptide Y improves cisplatin-induced bone marrow dysfunction without blocking chemotherapeutic efficacy in a cancer mouse model

  • Park, Min Hee;Jung, In Kyung;Min, Woo-Kie;Choi, Jin Ho;Kim, Gyu Man;Jin, Hee Kyung;Bae, Jae-sung
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.50 no.8
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    • pp.417-422
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    • 2017
  • Cisplatin is the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutic agent for many types of cancer. Unfortunately, its clinical use is limited by its adverse effects, notably bone marrow suppression leading to abnormal hematopoiesis. We previously revealed that neuropeptide Y (NPY) is responsible for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function by protecting the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) fibers survival from chemotherapy-induced bone marrow impairment. Here, we show the NPY-mediated protective effect against bone marrow dysfunction due to cisplatin in an ovarian cancer mouse model. During chemotherapy, NPY mitigates reduction in HSC abundance and destruction of SNS fibers in the bone marrow without blocking the anticancer efficacy of cisplatin, and it results in the restoration of blood cells and amelioration of sensory neuropathy. Therefore, these results suggest that NPY can be used as a potentially effective agent to improve bone marrow dysfunction during cisplatin-based cancer therapy.

Amelioration of Asthmatic-Related Symptoms by an Aqueous Extract of Angelica archangelica L. (신선초의 물 추출물에 의한 천식 증상의 감소)

  • Heo, Jin-Chul;Lee, Sang-Han
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.18 no.10
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    • pp.1336-1341
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    • 2008
  • Inflammation through the respiratory tract is a crucial event in immune disorders, including asthma, and atopic rhinitis. To investigate whether an aqueous extract of Angelica archangelica L. (AaL) has a beneficial influence in terms of anti-asthmatic activity, its effects on an ovalbumin-induced asthmatic model were examined. Mice sensitized to ovalbumin were orally administered the AaL extract, and their lungs examined by Haematoxylin-Eosin staining to determine IL-4/13 cytokine expression. The AaL extract exerted strong anti-asthmatic effects by regulating each level in the $CD4^+$ cell number, IL-4/13, and other target markers in the lungs. Together, these results collectively indicate that the aqueous AaL extract ameliorates asthmatic symptoms effectively in a mouse ovalbumin-challenge model.

The Effects of Dietary Fiber Feeding on Gastrointestinal Functions and Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats (식이섬유 첨가식이 Streptozotocin-유도 당뇨쥐의 장기능과 지질 및 당질대사에 미치는 영향)

  • 박수현
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.311-322
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    • 1994
  • This study was conducted to compare the effects of four types of dietary fiber supplementations (cellulose, pectin, guar gum, and polydextrose) on gastrointestinal function, diabetic symptom amelioration and lipid & glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Six groups of male rats were fed ad libitum dietary fiber-free control diet or one of experimental diets containing 5% dietary fiber for four weeks. All types of dietary fiber supplementation seemed to protect the diabetic animals from the loss of body weight. The primary diabetic symptoms such as polydipsia, polyphasia, polyuria and urinary glucose excretion were ameliorated by cellulose, pectin, and guar gum, but not by polydextrose. Gastrointestinal transit time was significantly shortened and fecal dry weight was significantly increased in all the dietary fiber-supplemented groups except the polydextrose group. Large intestine was significantly lengthened by dietary fiber feeding. The serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were effectively lowered by pectin, guar gum and polydextrose. Regardless of their types, the fiber supplementation had no effect on serum HDL-cholesterol. Whereas fasting blood glucose level was significantly lowered by all types of fiber supplementations, glucose tolerance was more effectively improved by pectin and guar gum.

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Lindera erythrocarpa Makino extract reduces obesity induced by high-fat diet in rats

  • Ahn, Mee-Jung;Yang, Won-Jun;Kang, So-Hi;Kang, Min-Chul;Ko, Ryeo-Kyeong;Kim, Gi-Ok;Shin, Tae-Kyun
    • Advances in Traditional Medicine
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    • v.10 no.4
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    • pp.288-293
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    • 2010
  • Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (LE) is widely distributed on Jeju Island, where it has been used for various traditional therapies. Effects of a crude extract of LE were examined in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Anti-obesity effects were followed in rats receiving orally administered vehicle, 100mg/kg extract, or 250 mg/kg LE extract, for 56 days. LE extract (250 mg/kg) suppressed increases in body weight and epididymal fat, with amelioration of fatty changes in the liver. Additionally, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total cholesterol were significantly decreased compared with those of vehicle-treated groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that oral administration of LE extract reduced rat obesity induced by HFD, possibly through the reduction of fat accumulation.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Enhancement of Cellular Activity by Mushroom Lectins in Arsenic Induced Carcinogenesis

  • Rana, Tanmoy;Bera, Asit Kumar;Das, Subhashree;Bhattacharya, Debasis;Pan, Diganta;Das, Subrata Kumar
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.17 no.9
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    • pp.4185-4197
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    • 2016
  • Chronic arsenicosis is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world, including India. Animals and human beings are affected due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water, due to natural mineral deposits, arsenical pesticides or improperly disposed arsenical chemicals. Arsenic causes cancer with production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are neutralized by an elaborate antioxidant defense system consisting of enzymes and numerous non-enzymatic antioxidants. Dietary antioxidant supplements are useful to counteract the carcinogenesis effects of arsenic. Oyster mushroom lectins can be regarded as ingredients of popular foods with biopharmaceutical properties. A variety of compounds have been isolated from mushrooms, which include polysaccharides and polysaccharopeptides with immune-enhancing effects. Lectins are beneficial in reducing arsenic toxicity due to anticarcinogenetic roles and may have therapeutic application in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem that is especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Amelioration of Cognitive Dysfunction in APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mice by Long-Term Treatment of 4-O-Methylhonokiol

  • Jung, Yu-Yeon;Lee, Young-Jung;Choi, Dong-Young;Hong, Jin Tae
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.232-238
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    • 2014
  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease without known ways to cure. A key neuropathologic manifestation of the disease is extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptide (Ab). Specific mechanisms underlying the development of the disease have not yet been fully understood. In this study, we investigated effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol on memory dysfunction in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. 4-O-methylhonokiol (1 mg/kg for 3 month) significantly reduced deficit in learning and memory of the transgenic mice, as determined by the Morris water maze test and step-through passive avoidance test. Our biochemical analysis suggested that 4-O-methylhonokiol ameliorated $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus via reduction in beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 expression. In addition, 4-O-methylhonokiol attenuated lipid peroxidation and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity in the double transgenic mice brains. Thus, suppressive effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol on $A{\beta}$ generation and oxidative stress in the brains of transgenic mice may be responsible for the enhancement in cognitive function. These results suggest that the natural compound has potential to intervene memory deficit and progressive neurodegeneration in AD patients.

Korean Red Ginseng attenuates type 2 diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats

  • Hossain, Mohammad Amjad;Lee, Dongbin;Kim, Bumseok;Kang, Chang-Won;Kim, Nam Soo;Kim, Jong-Hoon
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.44 no.2
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    • pp.308-311
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    • 2020
  • Extracts of ginseng species show antihyperglycemic activity. We evaluated the inhibitory effects of diabetic complications for Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), which is enriched in ginsenosides using Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. The animals were divided into one of four groups (n = 6~9): Long-Evans-Tokushima-Otsuka rats (control rats), OLETF rats, rats given 200 mg/kg KRG, and rats given 400 mg/kg KRG. We examined the protective potential of KRG against type 2 diabetic illnesses. The results exhibited that KRG showed significant antihyperglycemic and antioxidative effects in KRG-treated OLETF rats. And, our results proposed the amelioration of cardiac function through normalized ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and vascular reactivity. Furthermore, histopathological abnormalities in the OLETF rats were prevented by KRG treatment.

Cytoprotective and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Nardostachys jatamansi Water Extract Via Expression of HO-1 (감송향물추출물의 HO-1 발현 촉진을 통한 세포보호 작용 및 항염작용)

  • Park, Chul;Zheng, Min;Seo, Eun-A;Kwon, Kang-Beom;Ryu, Do-Gon
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.624-629
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    • 2010
  • Nardostachys jatamansi water extract (NJ) has long been used for the treatment of inflammation-and immune-mediated disorders in the oriental countries. However, its site of action and pharmacological mechanism are not fully investigated. In this study, the authors tried to explore the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory actions of NJ. First of all, NJ has no harmful effects on viability of neuronal cell line HT22 cells in the dose range of 300 mg/ml. On the contrary, it shows cytoprotective effects on the cells treated with reactive oxygen species H2O2. Probably the cytoprotective effects of NJ might be caused by its ability to induce well known cytoprotective gene hem oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Furthermore, NJ shows inhibitory effects on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production which are known to destroy the integrity of both cells and tissues. It also inhibits potent proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) production. The blocking effects of NJ on cytopathic and proinflammatory actions of LPS might be caused by the induction of cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory genes HO-1 in macrophages cell line RAW 264.7 cells. The results in this study suggest NJ could be used for the amelioration of inflammation which is underlying mechanism responsible for most chronic diseases.