• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.376-381
• /
• 1986

A hypothesis that Korean home-made fermented soybean products are brown-pigmented in large part by contaminated bacteria is proposed. Twenty six strains of bacteria forming brown pigments in the presence of L-tyrosine were isolated from home-made soybean paste. They were characterized and all were identified as strains of Bacillus subtilis. The isolates produced dark brown to brownish black pigmentation on yeast extract-peptone-glucose agar (YPGA) supplemented with 0.1% L-tyrosine in 72 hours but not on YPGA. They also caused different depress of lighter pigmentation on potato dextrose agar and nutrient agar. When an arbitrarily chosen pigmenting isolate was cultivated in a liquid medium supplemented with L-tyrosine, it began to produce pigments only after cell growth stopped. The tyrosinase enzyme was extracted and the enzyme activity was measured by using L-tyrosine and 3-hydroxytyrosine (L-dopa) as substrates. The crude enzyme preparation porduced pigments at rates of $2.1\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;and\;5.0\;{\times}\;10^{-3}$ optical density units/min measured at 490㎚ for tyrosine and dopa, respectively. Possible content of L-tyrosine in a soybean paste formula was calculated.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.202-208
• /
• 1999

Schizophrenia has many clinical expressions and probably different etiologic factors. Infections, autoimmune mechanism and related neurodevelopmental abnormalities have been suggested as possible etiologic factors of schizophrenia. It has been reported that immunoreactivity to heat shock proteins, which play a protective role against environmental stresses in a cell, might be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Therefore, we examined the immunoreactivity to heat shock protein 70kDa and 90kDa(HSP70 and 90) in 91 patients with schizophrenia and 83 normal controls. Ig G antibodies to HSP70 and 90 of sera were quantitated by ELISA. The optical density(OD) was measured by an automated microplate reader at a wavelength of 490nm. The amounts of antibodies to HSPs were expressed as arbitrary units(AU)/ml related to a standard serum. The limit for elevated antibody titers(anti-HSPs positive or negative) was set at two standard deviations added to the mean of the normal controls. Twenty nine(31.9%) of the 91 patients showed anti-HSP70 positive and 19(20.9%) of those showed anti-HSP90 positive. On the other hand, only 1(1.4%) of the normal controls and 4(4.8%) of those showed anti-HSP70 positive and anti-HSP90 positive, respectively. The titers of anti-HSP70 positive were related with BPRS scores, while those of anti-HSP90 positive were not. There were no relationship between antibody titers and clinical variables including age at onset, duration of illness, family history of schizophrenia or number of admission. The titers of anti-HSP70 positive were significantly associated with anti-HSP90 positive. Our results suggest the presence of abnormal immune reactivity involving HSP70 and HSP90 in a subset of patients with schizophrenia.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.325-332
• /
• 2018

The mechanism of the previously reported antidiabetic effect of Basella alba is unknown. This study investigated the role of B. alba aqueous leaf extract in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines and islet morphology in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar rats, between 8 and 10 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10) and administered the following treatments: Healthy control (H-c) and Diabetic control (D-c) animals received normal saline 0.5 mL/100 g body weight daily, while Healthy Treatment (H-Ba) and Diabetic Treatment (D-Ba) rats received the plant extract 200 mg/kg body weight daily. All treatments were administered by oral gavage. Diabetes was induced in D-c and D-Ba rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body). The body weight and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were recorded every week for 4 weeks, after which the rats were euthanized and samples collected for further analysis. After the experiment, FBS level was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) in rats in the D-Ba group, but increased (p < 0.001) in rats in the D-c group. The absolute (H-c and H-Ba vs D-c, p < 0.05) and relative (D-Ba vs H-c, p < 0.05; D-Ba vs H-Ba, p < 0.005) weights of the pancreases were significantly higher after the experiment. The rats in the D-c group had significantly higher levels of serum interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (p < 0.001 vs H-c; p < 0.05 vs H-Ba and D-Ba) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (p < 0.0001), but lower levels of interleukin-10 (p < 0.05) in comparison with the other groups. Histopathological examination revealed severe interstitial congestion, reduced islet area (p < 0.0001), and increased islet cell density in the D-c group compared with those in the D-Ba group. From these findings, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of B. alba stimulates the recovery of beta-islet morphology in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats by modulating the peripheral production of inflammatory cytokines.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2008

Formation of ${\beta}$-amyloid $(A{\beta})$ fibrils has been identified as one of the major characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibition of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation in the CNS would be attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD. Several small compounds that inhibit amyloid formation or amyloid neurotoxicity in vitro have been known. Citrate has surfactant function effect because of its molecular structure having high anionic charge density, in addition to the well-known antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Therefore, we hypothesized that citrate might have the inhibitory effect against $A{\beta}$ fibril formation in vitro and have the protective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. We examined the effect of citrate against the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils by measuring the intensity of fluorescence in thioflavin-T (Th-T) assay of between $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ groups treated with citrate and the control with $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ alone. The neuroprotective effect of citrate against $A{\beta}$-induced toxicity in PC12 cells was investigated using the WST-1 assay. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that citrate inhibited dose-dependently the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils from ${\beta}$-amyloid peptides. The inhibition percentages of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation by citrate (1, 2.5, and 5 mM) were 31%, 60%, and 68% at 7 days, respectively in thioflavin-T (Th-T) assay. WST-1 assay revealed that the toxic effect of $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ was reduced, in a dose-dependent manner to citrate. The percentages of neuroprotection by citrate (1, 2.5, and 5 mM) against $A{\beta}-induced$ toxicity were 19%, 31 %, and 34%, respectively. We report that citrate inhibits the formation of $A{\beta}$ fibrils in vitro and has neuroprotective effect against $A{\beta}$-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Neuroprotective effects of citrate against $A{\beta}$ might be, to some extent, attributable to its inhibition of $A{\beta}$ fibril formation. Although the mechanism of anti-amyloidogenic activity is not clear, the possible mechanism is that citrate might have two effects, salting-in and surfactant effects. These results suggest that citrate could be of potential therapeutic value in Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.8-18
• /
• 2018

Background: This present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects of Aucklandia lappa Decne (AL). Methods and Results: We measured cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) content, mRNA expression (iNOS, IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$), protein expression (iNOS, COX-2, and $I{\kappa}B$) and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. Male BALB/c mice were fed 100 mg/kg AL (Aucklandia lappa Decneon 70% ethanol extract) and 250 mg/kg AL for 4 weeks; thereafter, we observed B/T or $CD4^+/CD8^+$ lymphocyte subpopulation change, and expression patterns of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ lymphocytes by immunohistochemical staining in mouse splenocytes and/or thymocytes. To determine the experimental concentration of AL, cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tested at $12.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ or less. AL inhibited the levels of NO, lymphokine production (IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$), and mRNA (iNOS, IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$) and protein (iNOS, and COX-2) expression. Additionally, the levels of $I{\kappa}B$, phagocytic activity, and splenic and thymic T lymphocytes, especially $T_H$ and $T_C$ cells were significantly increased in AL administered mice. The immuno-reactive density of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ lymphocytes was stronger in AL groups than in the normal group. AL stimulated NO, iNOS, and COX-2, and regulated IL-1${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $I{\kappa}B$ in macrophages treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). In addition, AL increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the immunity of mouse T ($T_H$, and $T_C$) cells. Conclusions: These results suggested that AL might show anti-inflammatory activity via the suppression of various inflammatory markers and immuno-regulatory activity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 1995

Characterization of immune cell subpopulations in the bovine was performed using a direct immunofluorescence technique adaptable for routine and repeated monitoring. This whole blood procedure is faster and requires less volume than conventional density gradient isolation methods. Low inter-and intra-animal variations were seen in hematology parameters and in CD4, CD8 and CD2 lymphocyte subtypes. CD4 values were 30% of lymphocytes in male and 32% in females. Thriteen percent were CD8 in males and 13% in females. CD4: CD8 ratios were approximately two in both sexes. Fiffty three percent were CD2 in males and 54% in females. The mean RBC counts of peripheral blood were 7.20$\times10^6/{mm}^3$ for male cattle and 6.36$\times10^6/{mm}^3$ for females. The mean WBC counts were 8.09$\times10^3/{mm}^3$ for males and 7.09$\times10^3/{mm}^3$ for females. The percent of lymphocytes(63-65%) was higher than the percent of neutrophils(17-18%), the percent of eosinophils(11-15%), te percent of monocytes(4-5%), and percent of basophiles(1%).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.141-153
• /
• 1992

Excess tritium analysis was peformed to verify whether or not cold fusion occurs during electrolysis of heavy water in the current density range of 83~600 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for a period of 24 ~ 48 hours with use of palladium electrodes of seven different processing treatments and geometries. The extent of recombination of D$_2$ and $O_2$gases in the electrolytic cell was measured for the calculation of accurate enthaplpy values. The behavior and interaction of hydrogen atoms with defects in Pd electrodes were examined using the Sieverts gas charging and the positron annihilation(PA) method. Slight enrichment of tritium observed was attributed to electrolytic enrichment but not to the formation of a by-product of cold fusion. The extent of recombination of D$_2$and $O_2$gases was 32%. Hence the excess heat measured during the electrolysis was considered to be due to the exothermic reaction of recombination but not to nuclear fusion. Lifetime results from the PA measurements on the Pd electrodes indicated that hydrogen atoms could be trapped at dislocations and vacancies in the electrodes and that dislocations were slightly more preferred sites than vacancies. It was also inferred from R parameters that the formation of hydrides was accompanied by generation of mostly dislocations. Doppler broadening results of the Pd electrodes indicated that lattiec defect sites where positrons were trapped first increased and then decreased, and this cycle was repeated as electrolysis continued. It can be inferred from PA measurements on the cold-rolled Pd and the isochronally annealed Pd hydride specimens that microvoid-type defects existed in the hydrogen-charged electrode specimen.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.477-493
• /
• 2020

This study conducted a seasonal survey to analyze the spatio-temporal variations of marine environments and phytoplankton community in Gochang Coastal Waters (GCW) from August 2016 to April 2017. In the results, the water temperature ranged from 2.1℃ to 34.5℃, showing a large seasonal variation, but the salinity changed from 31.14 psu to 32.64 psu. Therefore, the seasonal variations of water types in GCW were mainly determined by water temperature. The phytoplankton community consisted of 53 genera and 86 species, showing a relatively simple distribution. The phytoplankton cell density ranged from 2.2 to 689.2 cells mL^-1, with an average of 577.2 cells mL^-1, which was low in autumn and high in winter. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton dominant species was mainly diatoms during the whole year, Leptocylindrus danicus, Chaetoceros curvisetus, Skeletonema costatum-ls in summer, Paralia sulcata, Eucampia zodiacus in autumn, S. costatum-ls, Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii in winter, and S. costatum-ls, Asterionella glacialis in spring. In other words, the phytoplankton community showed high diversity in GCW throughout the year. According to the PCA, GCW were easily heated and cooled by radiant energy at lower depth, and the seasonal distributions of phytoplankton were determined by the supply of nutrients by re-fuelling of surface sediments due to the seawater mixing such as tidal mixing.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.483-497
• /
• 2017

Background : Behavioral stress has been suggested as one of the significant factors that is able to disrupt physiological systems and cause depression as well as changes in various body systems. The stressful events can alter cognition, learning, memory and emotional responses, resulting in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Results : We used a restraint stress model to evaluate the alteration of behavior and stress-related blood parameter. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of five animals each group. Furthermore, we assessed the change of body weight to evaluate the locomotor activity as well as status of emotional and anxiety in mice. After 7 days of restraint stress, the body weight had significantly decreased in the restraint stress group compared with the control group. We also observed stress-associated behavioral alterations, as there was a significant decrease in open field and forced swim test, whereas the immobilization time was significantly increased in the stress group compared to the control group. We observed the morphological changes of neuronal death and microglia by immunohistochemistry and western blot. In our study restraint stress did not cause change in neuronal cell density in the frontal cortex and CA1 hippocampus region, but there was a trend for an increased COX-2 and iNOS protein expression and microglia (CD11b) in brain, which is restraint stress. Conclusion : Our study, there were significant alterations observed in the behavioral studies. We found that mice undergoing restraint stress changed behavior, confirming the increased expression of inflammatory factors in the brain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.16-26
• /
• 2007

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease catalyzing the proteolytic conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which is involved in thrombolysis. During last two decades, the role of tPA in brain physiology and pathology has been extensively investigated. tPA is expressed in brain regions such as cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum, and major neural cell types such as neuron, astrocyte, microglia and endothelial cells express tPA in basal status. After strong neural stimulation such as seizure, tPA behaves as an immediate early gene increasing the expression level within an hour. Neural activity and/or postsynaptic stimulation increased the release of tPA from axonal terminal and presumably from dendritic compartment. Neuronal tPA regulates plastic changes in neuronal function and structure mediating key neurologic processes such as visual cortex plasticity, seizure spreading, cerebellar motor learning, long term potentiation and addictive or withdrawal behavior after morphine discontinuance. In addition to these physiological roles, tPA mediates excitotoxicity leading to the neurodegeneration in several pathological conditions including ischemic stroke. Increasing amount of evidence also suggest the role of tPA in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis even though beneficial effects was also reported in case of Alzheimer's disease based on the observation of tPA-induced degradation of $A{\beta}$ aggregates. Target proteins of tPA action include extracellular matrix protein laminin, proteoglycans and NMDA receptor. In addition, several receptors (or binding partners) for tPA has been reported such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and annexin II, even though intracellular signaling mechanism underlying tPA action is not clear yet. Interestingly, the action of tPA comprises both proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanism. In case of microglial activation, tPA showed non-proteolytic cytokine-like function. The search for exact target proteins and receptor molecules for tPA along with the identification of the mechanism regulating tPA expression and release in the nervous system will enable us to better understand several key neurological processes like teaming and memory as well as to obtain therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases.