• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.255-264
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• 2023

Background: Red ginseng (RG) alleviates psychiatric disorders. Fermented red ginseng (fRG) alleviates stress-induced gut inflammation. Gut dysbiosis causes psychiatric disorders with gut inflammation. To understand the gut microbiota-mediated action mechanism of RG and fRG against anxiety/depression (AD), we investigated the effects of RG, fRG, ginsenoside Rd, and 20(S)-β-D-glucopyranosyl protopanaxadiol (CK) on gut microbiota dysbiosis-induced AD and colitis in mice. Methods: Mice with AD and colitis were prepared by exposing to immobilization stress (IS) or transplanting the feces of patients with ulcerative colitis and depression (UCDF). AD-like behaviors were measured in the elevated plus maze, light/dark transition, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Results: Oral gavage of UCDF increased AD-like behaviors and induced neuroinflammation, gastrointestinal inflammation, and gut microbiota fluctuation in mice. Oral administration of fRG or RG treatment reduced UCDF-induced AD-like behaviors, hippocampal and hypothalamic IL-6 expression, and blood corticosterone level, whereas UCDF-suppressed hippocampal BDNF⁺NeuN⁺ cell population and dopamine and hypothalamic serotonin levels increased. Furthermore, their treatments suppressed UCDF-induced colonic inflammation and partially restored UCDF-induced gut microbiota fluctuation. Oral administration of fRG, RG, Rd, or CK also decreased IS-induced AD-like behaviors, blood IL-6 and corticosterone and colonic IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and gut dysbiosis, while IS-suppressed hypothalamic dopamine and serotonin levels increased. Conclusion: Oral gavage of UCDF caused AD, neuroinflammation, and gastrointestinal inflammation in mice. fRG mitigated AD and colitis in UCDF-exposed mice by the regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and IS-exposed mice by the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.11
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) membranes incorporated with antimicrobial agents regarding cytotoxicity in fibroblasts of the periodontal ligament (PDLF), antimicrobial activity, and inhibition of multispecies biofilm formation. Materials and Methods: The tested BNC membranes were BNC + 1% clindamycin (BNC/CLI); BNC + 0.12% chlorhexidine (BNC/CHX); BNC + nitric oxide (BNC/NO); and conventional BNC (BNC; control). After PDLF culture, the BNC membranes were positioned in the wells and maintained for 24 hours. Cell viability was then evaluated using the MTS calorimetric test. Antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) was evaluated using the agar diffusion test. To assess the antibiofilm activity, BNC membranes were exposed for 24 hours to the mixed culture. After sonicating the BNC membranes to remove the remaining biofilm and plating the suspension on agar, the number of colony-forming units (CFU)/mL was determined. Data were analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (α = 5%). Results: PDLF metabolic activity after contact with BNC/CHX, BNC/CLI, and BNC/NO was 35%, 61% and 97%, respectively, compared to BNC. BNC/NO showed biocompatibility similar to that of BNC (p = 0.78). BNC/CLI showed the largest inhibition halos, and was superior to the other BNC membranes against S. sanguinis (p < 0.05). The experimental BNC membranes inhibited biofilm formation, with about a 3-fold log CFU reduction compared to BNC (p < 0.05). Conclusions: BNC/NO showed excellent biocompatibility and inhibited multispecies biofilm formation, similarly to BNC/CLI and BNC/CHX.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.936-944
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• 1996

Background: Neutrophils or monocytes separated in vitro by the adherence to plastic surface are known to be activated by surface adherence itself and subsequent experimental data might be altered by surface adherence. Adhesion molecules and gene transcription of the inflammatory mediators are known to be associated in this process. To evaluate whether adhesion molecule and transcriptional activation of the inflammatory substances are also involved in the activation of human alveolar macrophage by the adherence procedure, we designed this experiment. Method : Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in the person whose lung of either side was confirmed to be nonnal by chest cr and alveolar macrophage was harvested. To measure the expression of Interleukin-8(IL-8) mRNA, manganese superoxide dismutase(SOD) mRNA and CD11/CD18 mRNA in human alveolar macrophage of both adherence state and suspension state, Northern blot analysis was done at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 24hrs after the adherence to plastic surface and during suspension state. Then, phorbol myristate acetate(pMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine(fMLP) were added respectively in the same experimental condition. Result : 1) Human alveolar macrophages in the adherent state induced IL-8 mRNA and SOD mRNA expression which was maximal at 8 hours after the adherence to plastic surface. But we could not observe the upregulation of CD18 mRNA by surface adherence. 2) PMA induced these mRNA expression both in the adherent cell and the nonadherem cells, but the induction of mRNA expression by fMLP occurred only in the adherent cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that adherence of huamn alveolar macropahge is an important cell-activating event that may play a critical role in the modulation of lung inflammatory respones.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1990

These experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of cumulus cells for in vitro fertilization and development of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells were collected by puncturing follicles with 2~6 mm of diameter. Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro for 24~26 hours in a CO2 incubator with 5% CO2 in air at 39$^{\circ}C$. The medium used for maturation was TCM-199 supplemented with hormones, pyruvate, FCS and antibiotics. Epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by in vitro culture for 2~3 hours in BO solution containing BSA(5mg/ml) and caffeine(2.5mM). Insemination was made by introducing about 10~15 matured oocytes into the suspension of capacitated spermatozoa. Six hour after insemination the eggs were transferred to TCM-199 supplemented with FCS(10%) and HEPES(25mM), cultured for 7~8 days with 10~15 eggs/well in 4-well multidishes(Nunc Co.) forming cumulus cell monolayer. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows ; 1. The majority of the follicular oocytes with compacted cumulus cells existed in GV stage while those with dispersed or denuded cumulus cells existed GVBD and M II stage. 2. After 24~26 hours maturation, the maturation rates of the follicular oocytes cultured in TCM-199 containing hormones were slightly higher than those of oocytes cultured in medium without hormones, and the frequency of cumulus compacted or denuded oocytes reaching M II stage cultured in medium containing hormones was 75.7% or 51.7%, respectively(P<0.05). 3. After 20 hours in vitro insemination, percentages of ova fertilized were 61.4% or 51.4%, respectively, for cumulus oophorus intacted or removed, and increased frequency of ova with both male and female pronuclei was found when cumuli were present(P<0.05). 4. The rates of embryos developed to 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cell and morula or blastocyst stage after cocultured with cumulus cells were 65.0%, 45.3%, 34.7%, 28.0% and 22.7%, respectively. The results for momla or blastocyst stage were significantly higher than those of the embryos cultured in the basic medium(P<0.05).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2005

This study was conducted to develop a method for the quantitative determination of soil clay content by spectophotometry. The optimum wavelength obtained with reference clay minerals for spectrophotometry was 500 nm. For the proposed spectrophotometry, 0.5 g of soil sample was put in the 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask and 100 ml dispersing agent was added. After shaking the flask at 130 rpm with a mechanical shaker overnight, the flask was removed from the shaker and was shaken up-and-down for 30 seconds. With a micro-pipet, 4 ml of the suspension was transferred into the previously-inserted cell and the absorbance was measured instantly. Results by the spectrophotometry for clay content analysis were compared with those by the conventional sedimentation technique (the pipet method). The proposed equation was $y\;=\;38.03x_1-0.17x_2-1.17$, where y, $x_1$, and $x_2$ were clay content (%) by the pipet method, water content corrected clay content (%) by spectrophotometry, and organic matter content ($g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), respectively. The regression coefficient for the equation was $r\;=\;0.984^{**}$, indicating highly significant correlation between the results of the two methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.1118-1123
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• 2009

Brown-rice hydrolyzates with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) were fermented using Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Ln. mesenteroides) KC51 strain at $30^{\circ}C$ for 15 hr. Changes in pH, titratable acidity, viable cell counts and phytate degradation during fermentation were investigated. The acid production was increased with increasing DH of brown-rice hydrolyzate. At high DH (48.2%), the pH and titratable acidity reached to pH 3.41 and 0.82% after 15 hr fermentation, respectively. Regardless of DH of brown-rice, however, the viable cell population of Ln. mesenteroides KC51 was slightly increased to $4.0\sim7.2{\times}10^8$ CFU/g during the 6 hr of cultivation. The phytate content in brown-rice hydrolyzates decreased with increasing DH of brown-rice hydrolyzates. The level of phytate was reduced to around 50% of initial concentration at high DH condition. When the fermented brown-rice was kept at $4^{\circ}C$, pH, titratable acidity and number of viable cells were nearly maintained for 14 days.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2005

To obtain regeneration system of onion, we analyzed the effects of 2,4-D and BA concentration on the embryogenic callus induction from mature embryos. The highest embryogenic callus induction ratio was shown on MS medium (Murashie and Skoog 1962) containing $2.5\;\cal{mg/L}\;or\;5\;\cal{mg/L}$ picloram after mature embryos were placed on medium. When induced callus were cultured on half strength of MS medium containing $1\;\cal{mg/L}$ Kinetin, the highest shoot formation ratio was observed on MS medium containing $1\;{mg/L}$ 2,4-D and $1\;{mg/L}$ BA. Embryogenic callus were cultured in MS liquid medium containing $1\;\ccal{mg/L}$ of 2,4-D and $1\;\cal{mg/L}$ BA. The suspension cultured cell clumps could be mass propagated. Embryogenic callus were friable, but non-embryogenic callus included a lot of moisture, hence the identification between embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus as easily achieved. When embryogenic callus as cultured on half strength of MS medium containing $1\;\cal{mg/L}$ Kinetin, shoots were induced. The whole plantlet was obtained on rooting medium containing $0.5\;\cal{mg/}$ of NAA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 1983

Red cell glycolytic intermediates, metabolites and metabolic ratios were studied. Glycolytic intermediates were measured in neutralized perchloric acid extracts of red cell suspensions after 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ in the presence and absence of saponin. Adenosine triphosphate(ATP), adenosine diphosphate(ADP), pyruvate and lactate were measured by enzymatic procedures involving stoichiometric oxidation or reduction of a pyridine nucleotide. Glucose was determined using glucose oxidase after zinc hydroxide extraction. The redox state was calculated from the lactate dehydrogenase equilibrium. Adenosine triphosphatase activity(ATPase) was measured by determining the amount of phosphate released from ATP by washed erythrocyte membranes(ghost) during 20 min. incubation. Both total hydrolysis and the amount of hydrolysis that occured in the presence of ouabain were measured. The second measurement yields Mg-ATPase and represents nonspecific ATPase activity of the membranes. The difference between total and Mg-ATPase activity can be attributed to Na-K-ATPase. For the measurement of sodium fluxes, human erythrocytes were preincubated in $^{22}Na$ for 3 hr at $37^{\circ}C$, washed and suspended in a tracer-free medium. The amount of $^{22}Na$ transported out of cells at any time was determined by analysis of supernatant samples taken at various time after addition of the labeled cells to isotope-free medium. The cells and medium were separated and the radioactivity appearing in the medium was measured. From the total radioactivity in the suspension and the radioactivity appearing in the medium at known time, the rate constant for sodium release was computed. The results are summarized as follows: 1) ATP and ATP/ADP were found to increase at every concentration of saponin tested whereas ADP declined at every cone. of saponin. The increase in pyruvate and lactate were observed at every cone, of saponin and thus $NAD^+/NADH$ computed from pyruvate/lactate also increased. Glucose utilization was stimulated by saponin. 2) $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activities showed a biphasic response to saponin, first increasing in lower concentration and then decreasing in higher concentration of saponin. 3) The efflux of sodium was significantly increased by saponin in the range of 5 to 10 mg%. The stimulatory effect of saponin on the rate constants for active(ouabain-sensitive) sodium efflux was inhibited by addition of ouabain.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2009

Codonopsis lanceolatae has been used as one of the traditional remedies as well as food source. However, few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. We previously reported that ex vivo supplementation of Codonopsis lanceolatae water extracts enhanced splenocyte proliferation compared to the control group. In order to elucidate its ex vivo effect, six to seven week old balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of Codonopsis lanceolatae were orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT (3- [4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y] -2,5-diphenyl terazolium bromide) assay. The production of cytokine (IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, was detected by ELISA assay using a cytokine kit. After 48 hrs of incubation with the mitogen (ConA or LPS) stimulation, the mice splenocyte proliferation in experimental group was statistically increased at two different concentrations than that in control group. The cytokines production was more significantly enhanced at the lower supplementation (500 mg/kg B.W.) group rather than higher concentration (500 mg/kg B.W.) compared to the control group. The results of this study may suggest that the supplementation of water extract of plant mixture could regulate the immune function by increasing the splenocyte proliferation and enhance the immune function through regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.519-525
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• 2016

To investigate the potential role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in liver fibrosis during Echinococcus granulosus infection, 96 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 2 groups, experimental group infected by intraperitoneal injection with a metacestode suspension and control group given sterile physiological saline. The liver and blood samples were collected at days 2, 8, 30, 90, 180, and 270 post infection (PI), and the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ mRNA and protein was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. We also evaluated the pathological changes in the liver during the infection using hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) and Masson staining of the liver sections. Pathological analysis of H-E stained infected liver sections revealed liver cell edema, bile duct proliferation, and structural damages of the liver as evidenced by not clearly visible lobular architecture of the infected liver, degeneration of liver cell vacuoles, and infiltration of lymphocytes at late stages of infection. The liver tissue sections from control mice remained normal. Masson staining showed worsening of liver fibrosis at the end stages of the infection. The levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ did not show significant changes at the early stages of infection, but there were significant increases in the levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ at the middle and late stages of infection (P<0.05). RT-PCR results showed that, when compared with the control group, TGF-${\beta}1$ mRNA was low and comparable with that in control mice at the early stages of infection, and that it was significantly increased at day 30 PI and remained at high levels until day 270 PI (P<0.05). The results of this study suggested that increased expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ during E. granulosus infection may play a significant role in liver fibrosis associated with E. granulosus infection.